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I think it has a lot to do with acceptance and fitting in. Some people, regardless of intelligence, will ever fit in the enviornment with the high paying jobs.
I think it takes all kinds to make up this world - if everyone was a doctor/lawyer/engineer who would build our homes, repair our HVAC systems, fix our cars, make our delicious food, process our driver license paperwork? When these people need medical attention, legal services they go to the appropriate people, and the world continues to go 'round.
Sometimes, people make screwed up mistakes and get a record, and can get no other work. Sometimes, people aren't concerned with a high paycheck, high stress never at home job and would rather have high quality family time instead.
Why do people who can do better just resign themselves to low wage employment?
How do you know they can do better?
Quote:
If you're making $8/hr, is $15/hr really not achievable if you put your hand to it? Do they not want to move where the economy is fine?
Why should they go to the trouble of trying hard or moving? They already get food stamps, Section 8, heating assistance, free childcare, Earned Income Tax Credit, and subsidized Obamacare. And if enough people protest long enough, the politicians will give them $15.00 an hour to boot.
In my personal experience, I just prefer to be in a geographical location that I enjoy with good climate and beach/topical life close by with year round nice weather and a laid back atmosphere. The area I am located, the salary is not nearly as high as other areas of the country as the standard of living is much cheaper where I am. I could transfer to many other areas of the country in my company and make a much greater salary but that would require me to be up north in freezing weather in a larger city and completely MISERABLE. Been there done that.. Never again.
I will take the nice weather and average pay with steady day hours/weekends off and laid back lifestyle of the south over the craziness/ better paying/ horrible crappy weather of the north with miserable people.
I don't think a ton of money makes one happy if you are in a location you don't enjoy
Maybe they enjoy what they're doing. Or they don't want to work in an office environment, or don't want to be in a job that creates stress for them.
Why does there have to be something wrong with them at all? I find that offensive.
I have to agree with this, there's nothing wrong with low wage work, it supports a huge chunk of the economy. Better someone who works a low wage job than someone who doesn't bother working at all and decides to live off your tax dollars! I have a great education and a background in management, but honestly, I've never had a job I was happier in than when I worked retail at the mall as a young teen. I can honestly say I hate my cushy office job and would go back to working at the mall in a heart beat, if the pay was more consistent with my current lifestyle.
I've been working as a nursing assistant for 12 years, now making $13.38 an hour, and even though the company I work for will pay for your schooling to acquire an LPN or RN degree, many low wagers aren't interested. And I enjoy the personal contact with the patients! Or course, not all!
For one, the LPN's are making $18 an hour, $24 for RN's, but, but! I don't think I could do it: put in a pic line , drawing blood, or inserting a catheter! And passing out any number of over-prescribed med's every shift!
I hate doing paperwork, and so many nurses today, they spend an inordinate amount of time charting, charting, charting!
And with the inevitable cutbacks coming for Medicare/Medicare, and with nurses now responsible for 25 patients each, it's only going to get worse. What next? 30 patients each?
And I'm an engrained pessimist/super-realist to boot! I read on too many of these forums, college graduates working minimum wage jobs saddled with student debt right up until they die! Too much of a pessimist to take that kind of risk!
There are many reasons, just among those that I know in this situation. To name a few:
Laziness, too much bother to go back to school or learn new skills
Unwilling to do hard, more physical work that pays more
Fear of the unknown - needs the comfort of staying where they are in life, unwilling to take a risk
Unwilling to relocate to where there are better paying jobs
Lacking any savings to pay for relocation or learning new skills
Working only part time, unwilling to work full time because it would cut into their TV time
Tried but failed many times, and gave up
Waiting hopefully for new minimum wage laws to pay them $15 so they don't have to do anything to improve their situation
Wouldn't have anything to whine about if they had a decent job
Nice way to generalize.
Try reading post #2.
I know of a few cases of people who work "minimal" jobs.
One was able to retire at 50 due to smart investments and an inheritance. He drives a shuttle part time to occupy some of his time, if you looked at him you wouldn't think he had two nickels to rub together. He is much better off financially than most of the people whose suitcases he picks up and drives to the airport.
A server who is an attorney, who made enough money and tired of being a lawyer.
While there are people who fit into the categories you listed, don't assume that is the case with all.
Another situation is being over 55 (or let's be honest, even over 50) and being downsized or otherwise put back on the job market through no fault of your own. Not such a wild scenario during the Great Recession and the aftermath we've all been living though.
Sometimes a low-paying job is all that is offered, despite exhaustive job-hunting. If the alternative is being unemployed, one is grateful to be offered that.
There are many reasons, just among those that I know in this situation. To name a few:
Laziness, too much bother to go back to school or learn new skills
Unwilling to do hard, more physical work that pays more
Fear of the unknown - needs the comfort of staying where they are in life, unwilling to take a risk
Unwilling to relocate to where there are better paying jobs
Lacking any savings to pay for relocation or learning new skills
Working only part time, unwilling to work full time because it would cut into their TV time
Tried but failed many times, and gave up
Waiting hopefully for new minimum wage laws to pay them $15 so they don't have to do anything to improve their situation
Wouldn't have anything to whine about if they had a decent job
Most of your excuses emphasize laziness when it is well known that when they say there are more jobs available it is mainly low wage jobs or part time jobs. Full time high paying jobs for college graduates are ultra competitive often getting up to 300 applications per job. I know because I do some recruiting. Most people can't afford to get by and the reason they want a low wage job is because they NEED money and low wage jobs typically hire quicker than waiting 6 or more months for a background check at higher paying jobs. I think you are very unfair in your criticisms.
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I don't think I could do it: put in a pic line 
