Which of the following is a consequence of a strong competitive job market?

A strong competitive job market typically means that there is a high demand for workers, which often leads employers to offer better compensation packages to attract and retain talent. Increased wages are a direct consequence of this competitive environment, as companies may need to improve their salary offers and benefits to stand out in attracting qualified candidates. This increase in wages can also reflect the higher skill levels and qualifications that employers are seeking, driving wages upwards in sectors where talent is particularly scarce.

In such markets, job applicants may have more leverage, leading to enhanced negotiation for better salaries. Consequently, this scenario not only benefits employees through higher earnings but can also create a more robust purchasing power within the economy, as individuals have more disposable income to spend.

The other options, while they can be factors in different contexts, do not directly correlate with the primary consequence of a strong competitive job market in the same way that increased wages do. For instance, less job security is often associated with economic downturns rather than competitiveness. Higher unemployment rates are typically indicative of a weak job market, and less government spending does not have a direct relation to the competition within the job market itself.