Current Events > How do some adults perpetually get trapped in minimum wage jobs?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I can understand there are indeed some people who are incapable, whatever the reason may be, of moving up the ladder and getting promotions or raises.

But for the others, I feel they are perfectly capable of moving into managerial positions or gaining skill to market themselves at another job for a higher pay grade. I don't understand how a 35 year old or 50 year old with years of work experience can only work at a minimum wage. Especially if they have no criminal history.

I'm not saying everyone can go from minimum wage to a 60k salary. But I would think they could at least, eventually over time, find a job at least $5 over the minimum wage.

Minimum wage is not meant for a 35 year old who has been working since 16. Can someone explain to me why there are apparently people who having been working these jobs for years?
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I honestly don't know how. With work experience you should easily be able to find something that's at least decently above minimum. Hell my first job with no experience paid about $2 above the min.

Maybe some people just have absolutely zero drive to do anything.
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At will employment, familial and other obligations that prevent pursuing other opportunities, can't make interviews during work hours because their budget won't allow them time off, etc.
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tote_all posted...

You're not looking at the bigger picture.

There aren't enough managerial positions for every adult 35+.

It's that simple.

I'm not sure about that. Fast food alone, on average, there's a general manager, asst general manager and 1-3 leads. The rest are workers, probably at least half of those workers under 23 and many will move on to bigger and better things. So someone who sticks around for a few years and works hard should conceivably be able to move up or move on with their experience. Or move up a little, then move on.

You're not going to have all of the under 23 year olds at a fast food joint competing for a management position. Some will leave to do other things.
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Complacency, lack of motivation, drive, ambition, etc. You name it.
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laziness, stagnation, immaturity, and in some rare cases it's all they can find

And then there's all the other places. Think of a big city. Or a medium sized city. You see all these shops and restaurants of all sorts. They all have a manager, assistant, and most likely leads.

Payless shoes, gamestop, Walmart has many management positions, phone stores, car dealerships, car repair shops, fast food, starbucks, grocery stores, gas stations on every corner, you could go on and on.

I just don't get it. Gunplagirl made a good statement, maybe it can be hard for some people.

I can understand if people have a criminal history or otherwise sort of incompetent in some regard. But for the average person I just don't understand how they can't find something else after all these years of working.
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Getting comfortable at a job, creating imaginary roadblocks for themselves, etc.
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Mostly it's pure laziness. People not wanting to put in the work to move on to bigger and better things. Ironically it's that crowd that bitches the loudest how life is unfair.
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Houston posted...

tote_all posted...

You're not looking at the bigger picture.

There aren't enough managerial positions for every adult 35+.

It's that simple.

I'm not sure about that. Fast food alone, on average, there's a general manager, asst general manager and 1-3 leads. The rest are workers, probably at least half of those workers under 23 and many will move on to bigger and better things. So someone who sticks around for a few years and works hard should conceivably be able to move up or move on with their experience. Or move up a little, then move on.

You're not going to have all of the under 23 year olds at a fast food joint competing for a management position. Some will leave to do other things.

I knew a few people who got up to shift lead. They went from minimum wage with zero ability to get raises to do minimum wage but with paid time off (40 hours per year).
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