‘What century are these employers in?’: Job hunter blasts $18 an hour offers, says she needs at least $30-$40 an hour

[lightbright]

As the economy continues to shift and with ongoing mass layoffs, finding a job that pays a livable wage can be difficult.

Worker Leanna (@_leannaxo) recently posted a video highlighting one of the difficulties that job hunters have when searching for employment: fielding a position that will cover all of their expenses. The five-second clip video gained over 27,600 views as of Tuesday morning and sparked a conversation about livable wages.

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“When I’m looking for jobs & they say the salary is 30,000-35,000 a year which equals $18 an hour,” Leanna wrote in the text overlay.

The creator reinforced their frustration in the video’s caption writing, “IN THIS ECONOMY!?!?!?! Issa no from me dawg. I need at least 30-40 an hour.”

The Daily Dot has reached out to Leanna via email. In the comments, however, a number of viewers said that jobs paying more than $20 an hour were both hard to come by—and barely enough to get by.

“What century are these employers in? That’s not enough in most rural areas anymore,” one user said.

“I can’t find anything above $15 an hour in my area that doesn’t require a degree,” another wrote.

“Most people are lucky to make $18 an hour full time in most states without a degree. They hardly wanna pay $15,” a third viewer noted.

The job market has changed in the last few years. A combination of factors including soaring college costs, a competitive labor market, and new learning alternatives has caused college degrees to become less valuable. According to the Burning Glass Institute, the percentage of jobs requiring college degrees dropped from 51% in 2017 to 44% in 2021.

While job requirements have shifted, however, over one-third of American jobs still pay minimum wage. Commenters pointed this fact out, arguing that employers need to readjust their ideas of standard pay.

“Literally such a joke that [companies] still offer less than 50k a year. Wake the fck up corporate America,” one user remarked.

“I was like $25 an hour should be a good start. When I run the COL in my area, that’s not even above poverty wages,” another user added.

MSN

www.msn.com

 

[theoriginalgreatone]

Facts

 

[Duece]

Minimum wage would be $26 an hour if it had grown in line with productivity

The gap between what average U.S. workers produce and what they earn has grown ever wider. That's a problem.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[EPDC]

I agree, $18 an hour isn't much.....however, what is Leanna's work experience and background? What kind of job is she looking for and qualified to do?

 

[lightbright]

I agree, $18 an hour isn't much.....however, what is Leanna's work experience and background? What kind of job is she looking for and qualified to do?

$18/hr ain't shit unless you're living with your parents..... or in grandmas basement

 

[EPDC]

$18/hr ain't shit unless you're living with your parents..... or in grandmas basement

Agreed. However, if you're living with a partner and both of y'all are making $18, it could work. Not ideal but there are folks living and getting by making less.

I couldn't do it, but someone without kids who is sharing a space with their significant other, $18 can be doable....

 

[Drayonis]

“I can’t find anything above $15 an hour in my area that doesn’t require a degree,” another wrote.

Then get a degree? Certificate? Something?

 

[mailboxpimp]

Plenty of good jobs pay $30 per hr.

 

[Bawse Nigguh]

I feel the same damn way…18 an hour…as a full time job? How do you survive? You have to want more for yourself

 

[Dannyblueyes]

I used to think that the problem was employers not paying enough money, but now I'm starting to question that.

America's per capita income is the highest in the world at $55,000. To put that in perspective Canada's per capita income is $38,000. (Roughly the same amount that this poster would make at an $18 an hour job).

So how is it that Canadians can make $20,000 a year less, pay higher taxes, pay almost double for most consumer goods, but still have a near identical standard of living to most Americans?

 

[Dannyblueyes]

Then get a degree? Certificate? Something?

Or learn to do math. A full-time job at $18 an hour isn't $30,000 to 35,000 a year. It's $37,440

 

[tallblacknyc]

I used to think that the problem was employers not paying enough money, but now I'm starting to question that.

America's per capita income is the highest in the world at $55,000. To put that in perspective Canada's per capita income is $38,000. (Roughly the same amount that this poster would make at an $18 an hour job).

So how is it that Canadians can make $20,000 a year less, pay higher taxes, pay almost double for most consumer goods, but still have a near identical standard of living to most Americans?

How much is housing in canada?..rent/ mortgage

 

[EPDC]

Or learn to do math. A full-time job at $18 an hour isn't $30,000 to 35,000 a year. It's $37,440

That's gross pay. After taxes, medical deductions and Social Security, etc...it's around the $30,000 - $35,000 range.

 

[Dannyblueyes]

How much is housing in canada?..rent/ mortgage

Depends on where you live, just like it does here.

I went back to visit a friend who just rented a two bedroom apartment in the suburbs. It's about an hour drive from Vancouver and a 30 minute bus ride from the nearest train station. He's paying $1,300 a month with a hookup. Without it he'd be paying $1,600.

One of my daughters rents a studio apartment in penticton. A small, remote, city of about 35,000 people. She's paying $800 a month.

Within Vancouver the rents are comparable to San Francisco.

Then again, how you live is just as important as where.

 

[slewdem100]

Then get a degree? Certificate? Something?

They could raise minimum wage to reflect the reality of living in America today....or do something to curb the corporate greed that is the main driver of the rising cost of living e.g. not allowing corporations to buy up residential real estate in the quantity they do and thereby shifting the market

People can improve themselves but if people gotta be extra disciplined and extra studious just to achieve a basic lifestyle where prior generations did not have to, then its a sign that something is wrong...used to be all the extra work was for people who wanted more....now its a necessity just to get by

 

[slewdem100]

I used to think that the problem was employers not paying enough money, but now I'm starting to question that.

America's per capita income is the highest in the world at $55,000. To put that in perspective Canada's per capita income is $38,000. (Roughly the same amount that this poster would make at an $18 an hour job).

So how is it that Canadians can make $20,000 a year less, pay higher taxes, pay almost double for most consumer goods, but still have a near identical standard of living to most Americans?

Maybe that higher taxes thing means the Gov't provides more...always thought of Canada as less cutthroat, "you on your own" than the USA....maybe this particular crisis in the last few years is more intense in the USA than Canada...and finally, maybe Canada is better off than the USA but maybe Canada is fucked up too

But I don't know shit about Canada

 

[regulus]

I used to think that the problem was employers not paying enough money, but now I'm starting to question that.

America's per capita income is the highest in the world at $55,000. To put that in perspective Canada's per capita income is $38,000. (Roughly the same amount that this poster would make at an $18 an hour job).

So how is it that Canadians can make $20,000 a year less, pay higher taxes, pay almost double for most consumer goods, but still have a near identical standard of living to most Americans?

Canadians have socialized healthcare, cheaper college, and while major cities have high rents most of the country is less developed and more affordable.

 

[gene cisco]

I used to think that the problem was employers not paying enough money, but now I'm starting to question that.

America's per capita income is the highest in the world at $55,000. To put that in perspective Canada's per capita income is $38,000. (Roughly the same amount that this poster would make at an $18 an hour job).

So how is it that Canadians can make $20,000 a year less, pay higher taxes, pay almost double for most consumer goods, but still have a near identical standard of living to most Americans?

Well, majority of people are fucking idiots. That is average intelligence and below. That is just reality. Sad, but true. The middle class in the U.S. was built off manual labor that any fool could do. It's the first time in fucking history shit was like that. All good things must come to an end. Shit was just unsustainable.

I'm for fair wages, don't get me wrong. But at the same time, reality ain't fair. Even now, I can hire foreigners to do skilled work for way less than in the U.S.

Problem is most people never operate a business so they think like employees. And I don't give a fuck if a person makes $200k, if they can put in a 2 week notice, they probably don't get it. Some grunts never realize how replaceable they really are. People in business on their own get it though.

 

[dasmybikepunk]

Employment in America is broken, until they make employers pay the cost of living minimum actual by todays standard is 60k for a single person with no dependents, anything less is a struggle from one extreme to the other.

..and yes that's without a degree, folks with degrees are getting ripped off too just too scared and proud to admit it.

jmo...you folks who think its different keep believing that.

 

[Drayonis]

People can improve themselves but if

So while you wait for greedy employers to increase pay, you do what?

I always say life is 50% things you can't control and 50% you can. If people tell you that you need a skill or advanced degree (after high school) yet you graduate (if you graduate) and get out in the work force expecting a living wage and be able to afford things knowing how fucked up the pay is then who's fault is that?

You don't have to go to college but at least get certified in something if you just want a higher paying job.

 

[slewdem100]

So while you wait for greedy employers to increase pay, you do what?

I always say life is 50% things you can't control and 50% you can. If people tell you that you need a skill or advanced degree (after high school) yet you graduate (if you graduate) and get out in the work force expecting a living wage and be able to afford things knowing how fucked up the pay is then who's fault is that?

You don't have to go to college but at least get certified in something if you just want a higher paying job.

The system is the system...in her particular case, she needs to step her game up to get what she wants...this is common sense...what I don't want to get lost is while each individual must improve themselves, there is some society wide (global to be honest) fuckery going on...she should also keep saying what she is saying...everybody must keep pointing out the fuckery and hopefully one day the masses will realize how much power they really have in this situation and how much they are being played

Real wages have not improved for the masses in over 50 years while corporate profits have soared...this must not be swept under the rug even while we acknowledge that people must step their game up to get just the basics in this fuckery system

 

[Da Backshot Champ]

She could always see what her holes fetch on the open market. If a bitch has a mouth and pussy, she will never be unemployed. It justs the bitch don't want to work.

 

[blackbull1970]

Reaganomics.

 

[34real]

You have to start somewhere and people want options without having the skill set.

Get on the job,work and see where it might take you first then look for them other options....that's what my old man would say that might turn into you making way more than you expected.

More money=more time working....

 

[blackbull1970]

Reaganomics.

None of his Economic Policies have been reversed.

Look it up if you don’t believe me.

 

[Flawless]

All she needs is some yoga pants and she can make some money on tiktok.

 

[Coldchi]

i make the same face for job offers at $50/hr.........
i aint even tryin to entertain the conversation if thats what u tryin to pay.....

 

[Dannyblueyes]

Canadians have socialized healthcare, cheaper college, and while major cities have high rents most of the country is less developed and more affordable.

Then the problem is the government. Not the employers.

 

[Dannyblueyes]

Real wages have not improved for the masses in over 50 years while corporate profits have soared...this must not be swept under the rug even while we acknowledge that people must step their game up to get just the basics in this fuckery system

Corporate profits are not the same as company profits.

I used to belong to an organization called gig workers rising. We fought for better wages and working conditions for app contractors, particularly rideshare drivers and food couriers.

I left the group when I realized these companies are broke! Uber Lyft, doordash, etc, lose billions every year. Most food delivery companies even lost money during covid when they literally had a captive audience.

The only reason they are still afloat is because they've conned investors into giving them money with a promise of self-driving taxis and drone delivery services. The former is at least 10 years away and latter will likely never happen at all.

Drivers complained that they weren't making the money they did when they started. That's because investors started getting wise and pulled their funds. Now the companies can't subsidize the trips.

Couriers want to get paid what they're worth. Well, if the company loses money on every delivery then they would literally have to pay their bosses to let them work.

Yes, the CEOs makes millions and it's unfair. But even if their worked for free and gave that money to their people wouldn't make much difference. $5 million a year split amongst 1.7 million rideshare drivers wouldn't even be enough for each of them to buy a cheeseburger.

Yes, the company should pay higher wages, but if they don't have the means to do it you're literally fighting for your own extinction.

 

[Dannyblueyes]

Canadians have socialized healthcare, cheaper college, and while major cities have high rents most of the country is less developed and more affordable.

Most Canadians don't live in the underdeveloped parts.

 

[tpotda]

Corporate profits are not the same as company profits.

I used to belong to an organization called gig workers rising. We fought for better wages and working conditions for app contractors, particularly rideshare drivers and food couriers.

I left the group when I realized these companies are broke! Uber Lyft, doordash, etc, lose billions every year. Most food delivery companies even lost money during covid when they literally had a captive audience.

The only reason they are still afloat is because they've conned investors into giving them money with a promise of self-driving taxis and drone delivery services. The former is at least 10 years away and latter will likely never happen at all.

Drivers complained that they weren't making the money they did when they started. That's because investors started getting wise and pulled their funds. Now the companies can't subsidize the trips.

Couriers want to get paid what they're worth. Well, if the company loses money on every delivery then they would literally have to pay their bosses to let them work.

Yes, the CEOs makes millions and it's unfair. But even if their worked for free and gave that money to their people wouldn't make much difference. $5 million a year split amongst 1.7 million rideshare drivers wouldn't even be enough for each of them to buy a cheeseburger.

Yes, the company should pay higher wages, but if they don't have the means to do it you're literally fighting for your own extinction.

Kalanick became a billionaire from Uber, everyone in upper mgmt became wealthy. Even the engineers were getting TC comps well into the mid and high 6 figures a yr so the couriers just wanted their piece

 

[Dannyblueyes]

Kalanick became a billionaire from Uber, everyone in upper mgmt became wealthy. Even the engineers were getting TC comps well into the mid and high 6 figures a yr so the couriers just wanted their piece

Believe me, I know. This was brought up and almost every meeting.

The problem is that the driver's argument of "we're bringing in all the money." Doesn't hold water when the company has lost billions of dollars every quarter they've existed.

 

[regulus]

Most Canadians don't live in the underdeveloped parts.

Yeah, but they still skew the average downward.

 

[ANGRY MAN]

Just imagine the people who came in the company at 10 dollars an hour. Then work themselves up to six figures. And she come in the requesting $40hr.

 

[tallblacknyc]

Depends on where you live, just like it does here.

I went back to visit a friend who just rented a two bedroom apartment in the suburbs. It's about an hour drive from Vancouver and a 30 minute bus ride from the nearest train station. He's paying $1,300 a month with a hookup. Without it he'd be paying $1,600.

One of my daughters rents a studio apartment in penticton. A small, remote, city of about 35,000 people. She's paying $800 a month.

Within Vancouver the rents are comparable to San Francisco.

Then again, how you live is just as important as where.

So it sounds cheaper there than here.. at most you said 1600 for 2 bedroom.. some people are paying $200 to over a thousand more just for 1 bedroom.. so all you got to do is compare how much money they save from housing per month than times it by 12 and you will see they literally save several thousands per yr.. that right there is just one reason why they might financially be more stable compared to somebody making the same amount in the us. Like the famous words go it’s not how much you make it’s how much you save