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As someone who was low income as recently as the first of last year, I can attest that people at the bottom of the income ladder, things aren't getting better. Even with skills and experience, if you aren't in an area with a healthy labor market, you aren't going anywhere. This NYT focuses on a couple of people, including a veteran who worked as a chicken cooker at KFC in high school, only to return to that years later.
Can't we just accept that due to immigration/outsourcing/automation that there are increasingly less jobs out there? Especially for the "average" person.
Can't we just accept that due to immigration/outsourcing/automation that there are increasingly less jobs out there? Especially for the "average" person.
I don't think society can afford to accept that! Everyone of us needs a means of support. Automation and location knocked me out of the job market. I'll be self employed until I can start receiving SS in 5 years.
If you're talking about illegal immigration, no, that's not affecting low-wage jobs like retail, fast food, etc. Unless you want to clean toilets or pick fruit for less than minimum wage, that is. Otherwise, no.
Automation is probably the biggest issue. When I go to Walmart or some grocery stores or even some counter-service restaurants, I have the option to not interact with any human beings. Instead of needing 15 cashiers, they need only 8, because there are 8 check-out lanes with just one person manning all of them.
If you're talking about illegal immigration, no, that's not affecting low-wage jobs like retail, fast food, etc. Unless you want to clean toilets or pick fruit for less than minimum wage, that is. Otherwise, no.
Automation is probably the biggest issue. When I go to Walmart or some grocery stores or even some counter-service restaurants, I have the option to not interact with any human beings. Instead of needing 15 cashiers, they need only 8, because there are 8 check-out lanes with just one person manning all of them.
This. For the most part, illegal immigrants are not working in fast food and retail. They are working in menial "off the book" jobs in farming and general labor. Do people think those guys standing in the parking lot of Home Depot are getting picked up to go work at McDonald's?
History has shown that this country needs a sensible wage floor to hold employers accountable, unless you want large swaths of full time workers also needing public assistance to get by. The minimum wage needs to go up significantly, and be increased annually. Enough playing politics with the income of the working class!
This. For the most part, illegal immigrants are not working in fast food and retail. They are working in menial "off the book" jobs in farming and general labor. Do people think those guys standing in the parking lot of Home Depot are getting picked up to go work at McDonald's?
History has shown that this country needs a sensible wage floor to hold employers accountable, unless you want large swaths of full time workers also needing public assistance to get by. The minimum wage needs to go up significantly, and be increased annually. Enough playing politics with the income of the working class!
Agree
I can't believe some of these people when they, spout off about immigration and immigrants taking American jobs.'
There are already many people in America working full time jobs, and still receiving public assistance.
Some of people work for fortune 500 companies.
My old company ( a Dow 30 company) had record profits last year. When i told them i was leaving after 15 years for another job with more money, you would of thought they would had made me a counter offer, Nope!
I personally have made this company tens of millions of dollars over the years, and all they did was hire two guys, one which has already quit for a better paying job.
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