Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbie
I believe there are a lot of reasons for kids out of high school not being able to make money.
One is LOCATION.
I went to high school in Bartow, Fl. and kids could get out of high school and go to work for the phosphate mining companies and make 5 times what the minimum wage was back then. It was just being lucky to live there that worked in those kids favor.
Also...when I was 18 the drinking laws in Fla. were 18. They turned to 21 the next year. And INSTANTLY about 90% of the bars went out of business (I know because I was playing them in my band). And with that...all those great paying bartender and waitress jobs.
Fast forward to 2011. I have a 19 year old daughter. There is nothing out there for her. IF the drinking laws and gambling laws didn't discriminate against ADULTS under the age of 21, she could be making GREAT money here in Vegas either dealing blackjack or waitressing/bartending. But she isn't allowed by the govt. to do either anymore.
I know I'm a bit older than a lot of folks on here. But when I first jumped out in the world, bars were a great place for 18 year olds to make great money. A lot of kids paid their way through college bartending. Not anymore.
Thanks govt.  |
Makes a lot of sense. I graduated high school in 1989. I grew up in a small town that was a lumber milll town. At that time the minimum wage was around $3.25 per hour. A person at 18 years old could get a basic job in one of the lumber mills and make around $10 per hour. My brother did and within a few years he was making $14. So he was 21 making about four times the minimum wage.
Here is the kicker. The wages at the mill have been stagnate. My brother left because he knew that his future there was not good and had a better opportunity and it was the best thing he ever did. In the town I grew up in there were three mills. One of them has shut down and the others only run a day shift, not 24/7 like they used to. The starting jobs there are now around $11 per hour, but minimum wage in my state is now $8.50.
The country is changing. The number of jobs a typical high school grad can get right out of school that turn into jobs that they can live a normal middle class life on are quickly disappearing. It is sad that now the choice seems to be to live on much lower wages, or go to school and get $50-$100K in debt in order to get a better paying job.