Jobs of the future - "green" jobs pay scale lower (2009, free market)

[HappyTexan]

So the jobs of the future are "green" jobs but the pay scale is much lower than what typical middle class workers currently make.

Just another push in the direction of the middle class going away:

Green jobs struggle to pay living wage - Jun. 4, 2009

snippet:
"Many of the entry-level jobs making green energy components start at $12 an hour, much less than the now extinct $28 an hour job that had allowed high school-educated workers in the auto sector to achieve middle class status."

[supernerdgirl]

Which is also the same $28 an hour that every one blames the unions for and has brought about so much spite for those auto workers that worked hard for 30 years and have now retired at 50, right?

[GregW]

Thirty years on an assembly line wears a person out physically. They deserve good pay and a decent pension. Just like the rest of us.

[Randomdude]

The even bigger problem is that many of these new $12 an hour jobs and less are requiring education up to a bachelors degree or more.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

The even bigger problem is that many of these new $12 an hour jobs and less are requiring education up to a bachelors degree or more.

Yep. The way things are going, PhDs will be making $8 an hour. Oops. They already are!

[mpyne]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

So the jobs of the future are "green" jobs but the pay scale is much lower than what typical middle class workers currently make.

Just another push in the direction of the middle class going away:

Green jobs struggle to pay living wage - Jun. 4, 2009

snippet:
"Many of the entry-level jobs making green energy components start at $12 an hour, much less than the now extinct $28 an hour job that had allowed high school-educated workers in the auto sector to achieve middle class status."

Why thats 24k a year, I was making more than that delivering pizza.

[Luke9686]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

Which is also the same $28 an hour that every one blames the unions for and has brought about so much spite for those auto workers that worked hard for 30 years and have now retired at 50, right?

Actually the UAW make way more than $28, last I heard. Many labor/trade jobs pay very well, but are hard work. Which is why they pay well. My hands are too fragile for manual labor.

[texdav]

Originally Posted by GregW

Thirty years on an assembly line wears a person out physically. They deserve good pay and a decent pension. Just like the rest of us.

But do they decerve more than the average perosn doing the same thing is the real question. Also if their compnmy fails should they not get the same consequehnces?

[user_id]

Its really odd how hostile this forum is to free-markets and the rights of businesses.

Now, if a business is getting plenty of applications from folks when offering $12/hour why in the world would they pay more?!?! That would be insane. Its as if you guys think the business has some sort of obligation to pay above market rates for labor. Should it also pay more 20% extra for its steal and equipment just to be nice? Are you going to pay 20% more for their products just to be nice? Such nonsense.

Also ,these plants are in the mid-west. $24/year in the mid-west can easily afford a "middle-class" lifestyle! Lets break it down, say its a family of 4. They can buy a modest family home for $60k (these are a dime and dozen in the rust-belt, even in the bigger cities). They will pay virtually no taxes, just social security so after tax income is $22,300k, or $1,850/month.

Housing.............$600
Food.................$500 (Obviously assuming home cooked meals)
Utils..................$200 (average, less in summer, more in winter)
Health care........$200 (Assuming, they get benefits, but have some out-of-pocket)
Car...................$200 (Averaging)
Clothes..............$50 (averaging)
Total.................$1,750

That leaves $100/month for savings. If the wife works part time, then anything she makes will be additional savings. Anyhow, this would of course involve a lot of sacrifices, at least in the shortest term. But in what sense is it not "middle-class"?

Also, as the article states the $12/hour is the starting pay. As workers gain more skills and become more valuable their pay goes up. But even the starting pay is doable with sacrifices.

[HappyTexan]

user_id, that might be fine if someone is starting out but if these are ex-auto industry folks then they probably have higher debts.

Here's a snippet from that article:
"But the company's president, John Winch, noted that in the long run, wages in the U.S. will probably come down as wages in the developing world come up - all part of the globalization process."

This is the free market taking effect..globalization means US salaries MUST come down if we want to compete.