Who Gets Paid Minimum Wage in Canada?

[Zzarchov]

The problem is, it won't set you above the masses.

Demographically, the majority masses have post-secondary. So merely having post secondary will no longer suffice to "set you above the masses".

Supply and Demand, there is no longer such a big demand and low supply for higher education, therefore, wages go down. Basic economics.

People do not want to pay you more than they have to, if you are easily replacable, your wages are lower.

 

[#juan]

People do not want to pay you more than they have to, if you are easily replacable, your wages are lower.

The trick is to make yourself NOT easily replacable.

 

[TenPenny]

The problem is, it won't set you above the masses.

Demographically, the majority masses have post-secondary. So merely having post secondary will no longer suffice to "set you above the masses".

Aside from education, you need skills of some sort, plus the right attitude.

It is very hard to find younger people who have the skills and attitude for many jobs.

 

[#juan]

My point was, that if a guy has a degree in engineering, education, accounting, etc. He won't be applying for a job at a fast food place for minimum wage. If a kid has the ability to go to college, he should go even if it takes twenty grand in student loans. Minimum wage jobs rarely lead anywhere.

 

[Zzarchov]

I do have 2 diplomas in two of those fields.

If I wanted work, I had to start my own business. Otherwise, I was still limited to either volunteer work (which I did for a year) or minimum wage.

When the labour force is full, its full. And now without mandatory retirement, its gonna stay full for a long time.

Many of my old college buddies, including the valedictorian are worse off. The interest payments cost more than the increase in wages for their job requiring post-secondary in a very demanding field. They would actually be better off having not gone and going to flip burgers.

Now three of the five (ya, of 72 people in only 8 graduate) who were unemployed went to alberta and make descent money, one is even working in his field.

But there is a huge problem with bottlenecking. In my job, I was told there was no openings and I was unqualified for a position as an assistent to a technician. Two months later I was hired as my personal business, to the do the job of the guy I would have been an assistant too.

Talking off the record to HR about why he'd pay me $45/hr instead of $15? Its too hard to replace people from midlevel positions due to the cost in reasonable notice, so they hire contractors to pick up their slack, because its cheaper. When they do hire lower level people, they want people who are far over qualified, so when the queue starts moving they can be promoted quickly.

Now I will be the first to admit, that is ONE (poorly run) company. And other than as an amusing/annoying anecdote there isn't a whole lot of weight behind it.

But it is a HUGE problem. Too much education, not enough jobs requiring it.

 

[#juan]

I do have 2 diplomas in two of those fields.

If I wanted work, I had to start my own business. Otherwise, I was still limited to either volunteer work (which I did for a year) or minimum wage.

When the labour force is full, its full. And now without mandatory retirement, its gonna stay full for a long time.

Many of my old college buddies, including the valedictorian are worse off. The interest payments cost more than the increase in wages for their job requiring post-secondary in a very demanding field. They would actually be better off having not gone and going to flip burgers.

Now three of the five (ya, of 72 people in only 8 graduate) who were unemployed went to alberta and make descent money, one is even working in his field.

But there is a huge problem with bottlenecking. In my job, I was told there was no openings and I was unqualified for a position as an assistent to a technician. Two months later I was hired as my personal business, to the do the job of the guy I would have been an assistant too.

Talking off the record to HR about why he'd pay me $45/hr instead of $15? Its too hard to replace people from midlevel positions due to the cost in reasonable notice, so they hire contractors to pick up their slack, because its cheaper. When they do hire lower level people, they want people who are far over qualified, so when the queue starts moving they can be promoted quickly.

Now I will be the first to admit, that is ONE (poorly run) company. And other than as an amusing/annoying anecdote there isn't a whole lot of weight behind it.

But it is a HUGE problem. Too much education, not enough jobs requiring it.

I have a degree in mechanical engineering and even though I'm retired, I could go to work tomorrow. I don't know where you live but it is not like that here.

 

[Zzarchov]

Could also be age related too, again, im not an expert in the matter, I can only speak with anecdotal evidence to trends.

try putting out a fake resume as if you'd been fresh out of school, see if you get anything even entry level. Might be a fun experiment.

 

[#juan]

Could also be age related too, again, im not an expert in the matter, I can only speak with anecdotal evidence to trends.

try putting out a fake resume as if you'd been fresh out of school, see if you get anything even entry level. Might be a fun experiment.

I know young people are being hired because I still have a lot of contacts in the field.. Even entry level in engineering is far above minimum wage. These kids fresh out of university are pulling down twenty five grand and in a couple years they'll demand twice that.

 

[Zzarchov]

Its not about being hired, its about how many aren't.

I'd also question if they will still rise up in ranks fast enough to make twice that, with no mandatory retirement, the line doesn't move. That is a major problem alot of HR managers I talk to have, finding ways to keep staff happy without room to promote.

But different perspectives. I looked up from the bottom, your looking down the top. Neither one is right, the world is different since you rose the ranks, and the world is gonna keep changing so that nothing I could see right now will be there in five or ten. But the baby boomer bottleneck is the biggest HR headache out there right now.

I did pretty well just circumventing the whole mess, for now anyways.

 

[jwv]

For young people not yet in the work force the advice is: Go to school, Go to college, Go to tech school, Go to university. Get some training or education that will set you above the masses. There will always be people who will work for minimum wage. If you don't want to be one of them, get some education.....have a plan.

For sure. In the world today, degrees are almost required even for the most basic entry level positions with major companies.

 

[temperance]

who ever decided I needed a the 'C"MON ' rep remark ,Thank you --whatever you meant by that ,it is you who needs to C'MON get your facts straight ,get into the real world --

The Sat's that say 18-24 year old are , for the most part, the people that make up the minimum wage group are in dream land

Your Canada ,your country is hiding is poor and the greedy government we pay so well to ensure this very thing doesnt happen is the worst --the Corporations got the biggest tax cuts ,we the majority got zip a pittance ,everything has gone up in price except the pays for the people who need it the most ,the people that buy the corporation's crap -- Watch as everything goes underground from cigg to meat