Phoenix Low Wages (to rent, crime rate, how much)

[Solere]

Before anyone moves to Phoenix, please understand here that wages are very low, to the point where it might not be financially advantageous to do so. To those that live here permanently, it's time to start protesting low wages. I think middle and lower middle class workers (< $40,000 yr) in the Phoenix metropolitan area should start engaging in peaceful, law abiding protests that communicate to business leaders that workers in this town will no longer tolerate platry wages. Phoenix is no longer an inexpensive place to live like it used to be, and those who move here under this illusion that's "it's so cheap to live out there, who cares if most jobs pay under $10 an hour" are in for a rude awakening. Companies in Phoenix are exploiting the business and tax friendly nature of this state. Whether I'm employed or not, I look at the employment ads regularly and in the past 10 years in Phoenix, wages for most middle and lower income jobs have remained stagnant and in some cases have declined, while inflation and the cost of living continue to soar. Furthermore, because the Phoenix metro area is so crime ridden, living in a safe neighborhood, requires a rent that's on par with a similar safe neighorhood in San Diego or Orange Counties. In other words, in order to escape crime and unsavory people in this town, you have to rent in an upper class area, whereas in CA, you can feel safe in a middle class neighborhood because the crime rate is a lot lower. Check city-data.com for statistics and they will surprise you.
I think workers in this state should start boycotts and ingenious forms or law-abiding protests, info campaigns etc to tell companies that you can't live on less than $12 an hour here in metro Phoenix and that given the working conditions most employers in the valley offer and the cost of living, the new floor for most semi-skilled work should be $15 an hour. Tell CEO's they will reclaim any loss in profit by having a more happy, healthy and productive workforce, which will raise efficiency and negate any profit loss. I think it's time we start to change Arizona's reputation as a low wage state. Imagine if hundreds of thousands of people made a small sacrifice and didn't attend work for a couple days to send a message to employers about wage exploitation. What if tend of thousands of college students decided they weren't going to enroll in college because they don't see a return on their tuition and time investment, since most non engineering college grads in this town probably make less than $15 an hour. Tell employers to start rewarding a college degree since roughly only 25% of adults in the country posess one. Let's start valuing education and W2 work in this state. Let's start demanding that Phoenix metro area employers raise wages!!

[country pride]

Originally Posted by Happs

Before anyone moves to Phoenix, please understand here that wages are very low, to the point where it might not be financially advantageous to do so. To those that live here permanently, it's time to start protesting low wages. I think middle and lower middle class workers (< $40,000 yr) in the Phoenix metropolitan area should start engaging in peaceful, law abiding protests that communicate to business leaders that workers in this town will no longer tolerate platry wages. Phoenix is no longer an inexpensive place to live like it used to be, and those who move here under this illusion that's "it's so cheap to live out there, who cares if most jobs pay under $10 an hour" are in for a rude awakening. Companies in Phoenix are exploiting the business and tax friendly nature of this state. Whether I'm employed or not, I look at the employment ads regularly and in the past 10 years in Phoenix, wages for most middle and lower income jobs have remained stagnant and in some cases have declined, while inflation and the cost of living continue to soar. Furthermore, because the Phoenix metro area is so crime ridden, living in a safe neighborhood, requires a rent that's on par with a similar safe neighorhood in San Diego or Orange Counties. In other words, in order to escape crime and unsavory people in this town, you have to rent in an upper class area, whereas in CA, you can feel safe in a middle class neighborhood because the crime rate is a lot lower. Check city-data.com for statistics and they will surprise you.
I think workers in this state should start boycotts and ingenious forms or law-abiding protests, info campaigns etc to tell companies that you can't live on less than $12 an hour here in metro Phoenix and that given the working conditions most employers in the valley offer and the cost of living, the new floor for most semi-skilled work should be $15 an hour. Tell CEO's they will reclaim any loss in profit by having a more happy, healthy and productive workforce, which will raise efficiency and negate any profit loss. I think it's time we start to change Arizona's reputation as a low wage state. Imagine if hundreds of thousands of people made a small sacrifice and didn't attend work for a couple days to send a message to employers about wage exploitation. What if tend of thousands of college students decided they weren't going to enroll in college because they don't see a return on their tuition and time investment, since most non engineering college grads in this town probably make less than $15 an hour. Tell employers to start rewarding a college degree since roughly only 25% of adults in the country posess one. Let's start valuing education and W2 work in this state. Let's start demanding that Phoenix metro area employers raise wages!!

I know that wages will fluxuate everywhere but have to agree that sometimes with the cost of living in many areas, it doesnt always match up. Thats why most households need to have 2 incomes. Many people I know back in Az do agree though that with the cost of living going up the way it has over the past few years, many areas do need that extra boost.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Happs

Before anyone moves to Phoenix, please understand here that wages are very low, to the point where it might not be financially advantageous to do so. To those that live here permanently, it's time to start protesting low wages. I think middle and lower middle class workers (< $40,000 yr) in the Phoenix metropolitan area should start engaging in peaceful, law abiding protests that communicate to business leaders that workers in this town will no longer tolerate platry wages. Phoenix is no longer an inexpensive place to live like it used to be, and those who move here under this illusion that's "it's so cheap to live out there, who cares if most jobs pay under $10 an hour" are in for a rude awakening. Companies in Phoenix are exploiting the business and tax friendly nature of this state. Whether I'm employed or not, I look at the employment ads regularly and in the past 10 years in Phoenix, wages for most middle and lower income jobs have remained stagnant and in some cases have declined, while inflation and the cost of living continue to soar. Furthermore, because the Phoenix metro area is so crime ridden, living in a safe neighborhood, requires a rent that's on par with a similar safe neighorhood in San Diego or Orange Counties. In other words, in order to escape crime and unsavory people in this town, you have to rent in an upper class area, whereas in CA, you can feel safe in a middle class neighborhood because the crime rate is a lot lower. Check city-data.com for statistics and they will surprise you.
I think workers in this state should start boycotts and ingenious forms or law-abiding protests, info campaigns etc to tell companies that you can't live on less than $12 an hour here in metro Phoenix and that given the working conditions most employers in the valley offer and the cost of living, the new floor for most semi-skilled work should be $15 an hour. Tell CEO's they will reclaim any loss in profit by having a more happy, healthy and productive workforce, which will raise efficiency and negate any profit loss. I think it's time we start to change Arizona's reputation as a low wage state. Imagine if hundreds of thousands of people made a small sacrifice and didn't attend work for a couple days to send a message to employers about wage exploitation. What if tend of thousands of college students decided they weren't going to enroll in college because they don't see a return on their tuition and time investment, since most non engineering college grads in this town probably make less than $15 an hour. Tell employers to start rewarding a college degree since roughly only 25% of adults in the country posess one. Let's start valuing education and W2 work in this state. Let's start demanding that Phoenix metro area employers raise wages!!

When employers can't find workers at the wages offered, wages will go up. If that is not happening, no amount of protest is going to change things. People are just like any other commodity in the process and subject to the same laws of supply and demand. You could organize and strike, I guess, but in a right to work state someone else will get your job while you are out on the picket line.

[Stumblina]

I think it depends on what you do for a living. I know in Phoenix, I'll make what I make in Michigan, maybe even a tad bit more (legal assistant.)

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Happs

Before anyone moves to Phoenix, please understand here that wages are very low, to the point where it might not be financially advantageous to do so. To those that live here permanently, it's time to start protesting low wages. Let's start demanding that Phoenix metro area employers raise wages!!

I'm sorry but, the above is simply too funny!!! LOLOLOLOL

The unemployment rate is the Phoenix Metro area is 2.9% - one of the lowest in the nation (and, it is actually going lower)

Wages compared to the cost of living are not that out of line - check out the link for average wages (2006)

Salaries in Phoenix - What Jobs Pay in Phoenix Arizona - Pay Rates in Phoenix

Phoenix is now the 5th largest city in the nation

Home to 3 (soon to be 4) of the Fortune 500 companies

Home to major education centers

Etc

Don't like your income? Get educated and get a better job

[Bummer]

Very valid points, Greatday!

I have always lived by the theory that is isn't how much one makes as much as how much one has left over after paying the bills.

[artvandelay]

If the types of companies that hire here are inclined to pay poorly, then it's because they have the supply of workers who will accept poor pay.

Companies will always locate where the workforce meets their needs. If PHX didn't have a healthy supply of low wage workers, the company would find somewhere else.

It's funny, this sounds like the same argument that if people don't buy gas for a day or two in protest, oil companies would lower the price. Trying to organize people to forego gas is akin to getting them to refuse to feed their familes by not working.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by Greatday

I'm sorry but, the above is simply too funny!!! LOLOLOLOL

The unemployment rate is the Phoenix Metro area is 2.9% - one of the lowest in the nation (and, it is actually going lower)

Wages compared to the cost of living are not that out of line - check out the link for average wages (2006)

Salaries in Phoenix - What Jobs Pay in Phoenix Arizona - Pay Rates in Phoenix

Phoenix is now the 5th largest city in the nation

Home to 3 (soon to be 4) of the Fortune 500 companies

Home to major education centers

Etc

Don't like your income? Get educated and get a better job

I agree as well. It all has to do with what you do for a living. If you don't make enough then you have to find something that does, or somehow add more income doing something on the side.

I have been discussing my income lately in the social services being low for a MA and a lic. I want more money, and I know protesting probably won't work, so I opened up a private practice to supplement my income. I am also doing a kind of treatment that ANYONE can do making $100/hour or more.

I have a friend who works for P&G making $22/hr WITHOUT a HS diploma!! Yes, it took him a few years to get to that pay (he's been there 12 years) but it's doable. I have another friend who makes $15/hr as a grocery store cashier (and he has a BA degree).

Find something that WILL pay the bills and get you living in a nice part of town. I delivered pizza's for Domino's while in undergrad and I made $16-20/hr!

Though I do believe that many jobs don't pay well, I also do believe that it's not entirely the fault of employers. Our RE market jumped incredible amounts due to many sources that really shouldn't have. How are employers supposed to react to that? It will take time.

[SMG]

The way that I tackled this issue was to have the Mrs. get a third job.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by SMG

The way that I tackled this issue was to have the Mrs. get a third job.

haha, I'm sure she loves you!