>>The workers (many of whom have just entered the workforce, myself included at the time) apply for all the available jobs in their area and hope that at least

>>The workers (many of whom have just entered the workforce, myself included at the time) apply for all the available jobs in their area and hope that at least one hires them The workers could work for themselves, hawking products on the sidewalk, or going door-to-door offering to do odd jobs. The jobs being offered provide a better path forward for them, which is why they apply for them rather than being self-employed. >>their reliance on the workers' desperation means they all push the limits to see how much they can get out of workers for how little in return. All employers try to maximize how much they get for what they pay. The wage level makes no difference to the employers' basic objective. But what the employer offers has to be worth more to the worker than what the worker gives up, or the worker won't work for them. There is no exception to this fact in any mutually agreed employment contract. >>There's nothing particularly noteworthy about any given employer. You said they're in a race to the bottom, so there must be differences between them.