That's the problem, it's in aggregate when the problem is very localized.
The nation is producing a ton of high paying jobs but only in places where rent and property values are skyrocketing, which is in a tiny sliver of American cities. That's the problem and why aggregate statistics will never capture the problem.
My wife works in biotech. I work in tech. A year back we asked ourselves if we wanted to move to the mid sized American city where my parents live. Homes are very affordable there and if we had children, we could raise them near my extended family.
One factor in choosing not to move is that there's only one employer in the entire metropolitan region that hires in her specialty of biotech. I would have to take a pay cut or work remotely, which I'm okay with, but we might be totally ending her career altogether which we are less okay with.
So instead we're now renting at 3500 a month (3 bedrooms) and saving up for the enormous downpay we will need in greater Boston
>A question with potentially constructive answers: "What federal interventions would potentially be helpful given that the housing crisis is mainly in a few high-rent cities?"
Parent already offers an answer, tell states to end exclusionary zoning or lose federal transit/highway funding. Exclusionary zoning is born out of a dark period of American policymaking (redlining) so personally I'm on board