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Sure, job security for many has collapsed in a way that makes traditional jobs less appealing. That's a good insight. But "everybody wants to follow their dream

by lph 5y ago

Sure, job security for many has collapsed in a way that makes traditional jobs less appealing. That's a good insight. But "everybody wants to follow their dreams and go into business for themselves!" is sort of an LOL Hacker News caricature. Low-wage workers already knew they had no job security. They didn't need a pandemic and recession to show them that. What I want to know is why aren't wages going up? Isn't that the textbook free market thing that should happen when the entire economy is having trouble hiring?

mst 5y ago
I remember reading about cases where a minimum wage increase in a particular area actually benefited employers because they've had less turnover as a result so saved on training and ramp-up costs - but (effectively) none of them could convince themselves to do that spontaneously. I keep wondering if a similar thing is happening here.
Beached 5y ago
in my area I have seen low wage jobs like McDonald's and stocking shelves advertised at 12$ before the pandemic, I now see them publicly advertising starting at 14/15 and even 18$ for the super market. from the outside looking in. it does appear to have gone up a little in those jobs, but it doesn't appear to have gone up in any other job (like mine)
axiolite 5y ago
> What I want to know is why aren't wages going up? Who says they aren't? Every business around here has a banner about hiring, usually listing a $1,000 bonus, and hourly wages are shown at least 20% higher than they were pre-pandemic. Amazon is pretty desperate to hire, with $3,000 bonuses, and talk of nation-wide $18/hr minimums. https://www.reuters.com/business/amazon-hire-125000-workers-pay-hourly-wages-18-2021-09-14/ https://www.reuters.com/business/amazon-hire-125000-workers-... It seems that still isn't quite enough. But perhaps with the end of summer vacation, that picture may soon change.

by lph 5y ago

mst 5y ago

I remember reading about cases where a minimum wage increase in a particular area actually benefited employers because they've had less turnover as a result so saved on training and ramp-up costs - but (effectively) none of them could convince themselves to do that spontaneously. I keep wondering if a similar thing is happening here.

Beached 5y ago

in my area I have seen low wage jobs like McDonald's and stocking shelves advertised at 12$ before the pandemic, I now see them publicly advertising starting at 14/15 and even 18$ for the super market. from the outside looking in. it does appear to have gone up a little in those jobs, but it doesn't appear to have gone up in any other job (like mine)

axiolite 5y ago

> What I want to know is why aren't wages going up? Who says they aren't? Every business around here has a banner about hiring, usually listing a $1,000 bonus, and hourly wages are shown at least 20% higher than they were pre-pandemic. Amazon is pretty desperate to hire, with $3,000 bonuses, and talk of nation-wide $18/hr minimums. https://www.reuters.com/business/amazon-hire-125000-workers-pay-hourly-wages-18-2021-09-14/ https://www.reuters.com/business/amazon-hire-125000-workers-... It seems that still isn't quite enough. But perhaps with the end of summer vacation, that picture may soon change.