Spring Break
Minimum wage still means meager living
Editorial Board
Issue date: 7/3/08 Section: Opinions
Unemployment is also up in Illinois. Every one of the 12 metropolitan areas in the state recorded increases, according to a June 26 press release from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Invariably, many of the unemployed have families and dependents to support, so they are competing for a paycheck.
In many cases, they are adults who are relegated to working minimum wage jobs.
The increase in Illinois means about $520 more for minimum wage earners. But is this enough for workers who have to support families?
Employers who can afford to pay more should. Not everyone get the opportunity to go to college and earn a degree.
Even those that do have degrees often find that waiting tables proves to be more profitable than an entry-level position.
Major media outlets scarcely fail to let us know that the economy is slowing a bit; some saying it is worse that others.
In an increasingly individualistic society, we may have to shift to a more collective mentality. If things do get as bad as some people say, cooperative living to varying degrees may be an appealing option.
Perhaps the model of collective living that is so familiar to so many college students may be the best bet for after graduation and beyond.
Especially for graduates who can't find work.
Invariably, many of the unemployed have families and dependents to support, so they are competing for a paycheck.
In many cases, they are adults who are relegated to working minimum wage jobs.
The increase in Illinois means about $520 more for minimum wage earners. But is this enough for workers who have to support families?
Employers who can afford to pay more should. Not everyone get the opportunity to go to college and earn a degree.
Even those that do have degrees often find that waiting tables proves to be more profitable than an entry-level position.
Major media outlets scarcely fail to let us know that the economy is slowing a bit; some saying it is worse that others.
In an increasingly individualistic society, we may have to shift to a more collective mentality. If things do get as bad as some people say, cooperative living to varying degrees may be an appealing option.
Perhaps the model of collective living that is so familiar to so many college students may be the best bet for after graduation and beyond.
Especially for graduates who can't find work.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
swanee
posted 7/03/08 @ 10:24 AM CST
Look for a war between the "haves" and the "have nots" in the not too distant future.
There are recently published statistics which show that the gap between the richest and the poorest is at the widest it has been since just before the Great Depression. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 7/03/08 @ 3:08 PM CST
Unfortunately you failed to mention that as "retail" business pay more for their employees...the retail cost of items increase, which means that everyone pays more, which equals more money going through the register. (Continued…)
liz
posted 7/09/08 @ 10:18 PM CST
Look, the minimum wage was always intended to be a wage for young people, not the wage for a head of household. I know people who came to this country, spoke no english, held down 20,30 more hours at however many jobs they needed and managed to set aside thousands of dollars. (Continued…)
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