Employers just don’t like when supply and demand is not in their favor. I had this argument with an uncle of mine who complained that the company he worked at paid well ($20/hr) but no one would work for them.
I suggested the crazy idea that they try raising wages to meet the market, but apparently people are just lazy. So I asked him why tf would someone work in a machine shop doing back breaking, absolutely filthy work for $20/hr, with benefits that don’t even kick in for the first month of employment, when they could work at the local Amazon Warehouse as a picker for $25/hr with full benefits immediately even if they are part time. Not to mention how much less taxing the picker job would be on their body.
So he then went on to complain that people are greedy and demanding too much money 🤦♂️
So he then went on to complain that people are greedy
It’s always hilarious how the people who hoard all the power/capital above your uncle are just demonstrating rational self-interest like any good capitalist would, but oh, when the powerless laborers below your uncle are asking for juuust enough to make rent for their labor, suddenly the concept of GREED comes back into existence, exclusively for those with no significant net worth.
The cognitive dissonance is breathtaking to behold and maddeningly common. Credit where it’s due, our oligarch’s mass media propaganda played us like a harp from hell. It’s like most Americans are perpetually drunk in the not fun way.
It’s all part of the “Heirarchy”. His uncle considers everyone younger than him below him and well he survived on $5/he why can’t they?!
Jealousy too, the idea the younger gen might have an easier time really grinds their gears.
the idea the younger gen might have an easier time really grinds their gears.
You’re right, how perverse that what used to be our core societal value: to leave a better nation for the next generation has completely reversed once our core societal value became greed.
Fortunately for them, and unfortunately for everyone else, no one has to worry (or hope!) about that happening. They’ve seen to that. Millenials, Zs, and As will be rebuilding generations.
Picking is pretty physically demanding, though.
I wasn’t trying to suggest it wasn’t, and I have mad respect for anyone doing those jobs as they’re very physically demanding, but working in a machine shop is a whole other beast. Constantly moving hundreds of pounds of stock material, manipulating it and your body to weld/grind in ridiculous positions. It’s brutal work, absolutely destroys your body, and long term is much worse than most other manual labor.
I had a friend whose daughter got out of college and took a 6-figure job with a short commute. Most chill guy you’d meet normally… but he constantly got mad at her for not considering changing for a job at the factory he used to work for $15/hr. Would whine that she thought she was too good for that kind of job, that she was lazy. She was not unemployed, mind you… As I said, she made over $100k in her actual career.
It’s often both sides on the blue-collar-bus. You should work a local blue-collar job and be grateful for what it pays, or else you’re lazy.
Dude what did she study that she’s making 6 figures straight out of college.
…doctor?
IT in Boston. I don’t remember her degree, but I don’t think it was strictly CS.
That’s what we pay here starting if you have enough ambition and the right skillset out of college. At least I’ve hired $100k with no experience before.
Thanks for your answer. I’m also studying in a CS adjacent field, but I’ve never considered looking around Boston for work. I’ll have to take a look!
Boston and New York are the Silicon Valley of the East. The job market is highly competitive and you often have a horrible work/life balance. There’s still plenty of “affordable” jobs as well, but the leadgen companies, the medical software companies, the Hubspots or other ambitious startups, as well as the Amazons (obviously) pay serious bank. Obviously YMMV, but if you have 2 or 3 competing offers around here, you will almost certainly cross $100k. Then the question is whether you stay there or decide the pace doesn’t work for you. The pay doesn’t come free. But if you ask Blue Collar folks in my neck of the woods (I don’t live anywhere near Boston and used to commute there), you’re still a lazy bum if you do that :)
I work in software engineering and I managed to secure $220k right out of college with a bachelor’s. I’m extremely lucky, but it’s more common in bay area big tech than you would think. My partner makes an equivalent amount and so do most of our friends in tech.
Paid ~$24k for college between community college and my 4 year.
I see, Bay area makes sense. Thanks for the answer!
Damnit. Too spot on
It’s very accurate. I’m amazed.
Fucking Empcells thinking they are owed low wage workers.
I just saw a data science job posting advertising their avid meme and gif culture lmao
