This is not a simple issue of wage inadequacy. There is work for survival, work for wealth and work for satisfaction. Worker availability varies greatly in di

This is not a simple issue of wage inadequacy. There is work for survival, work for wealth and work for satisfaction. Worker availability varies greatly in different cities and regions. The drug epidemic today impacts the workforce to a greater extent then decades ago. The kinds of low-skill jobs that compete favorably against welfare (eg. manufacturing) were mostly exported to Asia; though this trend may be easing if not slightly reversing. A rush to college for liberal arts and social science degrees has produced several generations of workers whose skills are highly sensitive to economic & political; cycles, and to an impending AI replacement. The same may soon be true for several tiers of web and software engineers. Small business in America, the largest employer, faces costs and challenges that leave little room for investment in new workers. I'm talking small business - not Verizon, Costco or Yellow Freight. Government has grown substantially at the federal, state, county and municipal levels in many parts of America - competing with business for workers. Boomer retirement. Etc., etc. As tempting as it may be to sloganize the issue and blame employers - the reality is nuanced and complex.