There wasn't a company I worked for in my entire career that...

There wasn't a company I worked for in my entire career that gave out annual pay rises above the rate of inflation.
If you want to get ahead financially you have to work hard, get a promotion / take on more responsibility, build a career & learn how to manage a budget.

There's going to be huge transfer of wealth as the Boomer generation dies, if they have any sense they'll skip a generation & give it to their grandchildren.