> Your chain of causality is actually completely wrong. At 15 dollars an hour only a few companies can hire unskilled workers. At 1 dollar an hour many people c

> Your chain of causality is actually completely wrong. At 15 dollars an hour only a few companies can hire unskilled workers. At 1 dollar an hour many people can pay workers that amount, so there is more competition out there for wages. That theory is good if there's a surplus of job offers, something that doesn't happen outside of very specific sectors. Moreover, your argument assumes that changing jobs is easy and risk-free, when in reality it's not, specially for unskilled workers. > Minimum wage jobs should not be expected to be a long term viable career choice. Why not? Of course it's not the optimal career choice, but why wouldn't one be able to live off a full-time job? > Minimum wage jobs are a way for people to get their first experience, and then move one once they have gained valuable skills. Yeah, the "serving fast food" skill that is so demanded in the current job market. > workers need to be able to get paid 15 dollars an hour without needing to relocate or learn new skills If you don't get paid a livable wage, you can't save for moving and/or changing jobs, and it will be far harder to pay and/or have time for further education. Non-livable wages just lock people into poverty. When the alternative is losing your house, or your healthcare, or starving, people will be forced to make non-optimal long-term decisions because it's their only option.