Save Social Security by Rasing the Minimum Wage

[insein]

To GE Cook,

Why raise it only to $8? Isnt that immoral to those only making $8.15/hr trying to support 3 kids? We could raise it to $20/hr but then that would be immoral to those only making 20.50/hr and struggling to keep up with car payments and mortgages and credit cards. Lets raise it to $50/hr. Wait that will still cause undo hardships on those newly poor workers that were making $50/hr and now only make minimum wage. They will be heart broken at the thought of only making the minimum for their work now.

Explain to me why any minimum wage works? I havent heard a good argument yet FOR minimum wage.

 

[GotZoom]

MtnBiker, I think 50 million is about right. I will check it out; however, you must consider there is no limit to the top pay with CEOs making millions where the bottom has a limit of $5.15 per hour. Also consider that the average American works over 40 hours per week so many of the hours are time and a half. A person working 60 hours per week at $8 per hour makes $12 for 20 of those hours. Here in Pennsylvania, I know many, many full time workers that make less than $8 per hour. In NE PA $10 is good pay. The average family income in PA is in the 30s. I will look it up again but I though it was $36,000 per year per family.

No one has ques toned it before; however, I didn't just make it up. I am good with math. Look at the Wave generator invention on my site and you will see what I mean. I make projections with numbers and I am for the most part in the ball park.
Got to get some sleep. I'll be back in a day or two. Thanks for your thoughts.

Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

In your opinion, who is making less than $8.00 per hour? What jobs are they doing? What is the education level of these people? What training is required?

More importantly..why is this the only job those people can do?

 

[Mr. P]

Raise the minimum wage, why?
Look at these National Sectors which well exceed the minimum wage. Pretty much kills the “Living wage” argument too.IMO
***************************************



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Data extracted on: February 20, 2006 (11:09:35 AM)

Employment, Hours, and Earnings from the Current Employment Statistics survey (National)

Series Id: CES0600000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Goods-producing
Industry: Goods-producing
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 13.21 13.18 13.15 13.30 13.32 13.38 13.41 13.45 13.49 13.48 13.53 13.59
1997 13.65 13.68 13.70 13.72 13.76 13.78 13.79 13.86 13.89 13.97 14.01 14.06
1998 14.06 14.13 14.16 14.16 14.20 14.19 14.17 14.28 14.31 14.34 14.38 14.41
1999 14.43 14.46 14.51 14.58 14.66 14.72 14.76 14.79 14.86 14.89 14.90 14.95
2000 15.01 15.06 15.10 15.17 15.17 15.21 15.26 15.33 15.36 15.45 15.48 15.49
2001 15.52 15.56 15.62 15.62 15.71 15.77 15.83 15.86 15.88 15.91 15.98 16.06
2002 16.10 16.15 16.18 16.21 16.25 16.29 16.34 16.37 16.42 16.48 16.51 16.61
2003 16.61 16.63 16.68 16.69 16.76 16.80 16.81 16.86 16.89 16.89 16.94 16.97
2004 17.00 17.04 17.08 17.12 17.14 17.16 17.18 17.24 17.31 17.31 17.34 17.38
2005 17.37 17.43 17.45 17.52 17.55 17.59 17.63 17.68 17.66 17.74 17.74 17.77(p)
2006 17.81(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES1000000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Natural resources and mining
Industry: Natural resources and mining
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 14.93 14.96 14.96 15.00 15.02 15.11 15.09 15.17 15.18 15.09 15.21 15.33
1997 15.49 15.43 15.42 15.46 15.54 15.60 15.57 15.54 15.62 15.70 15.81 15.77
1998 15.84 16.10 16.17 16.06 16.05 16.07 16.10 16.27 16.33 16.39 16.57 16.46
1999 16.39 16.32 16.31 16.27 16.31 16.33 16.40 16.35 16.37 16.37 16.27 16.29
2000 16.38 16.37 16.42 16.54 16.58 16.57 16.57 16.57 16.59 16.62 16.65 16.73
2001 16.78 16.85 16.86 16.78 16.91 17.12 17.11 17.05 17.07 17.16 17.15 17.10
2002 17.09 17.10 17.13 17.12 17.19 17.15 17.17 17.24 17.24 17.21 17.41 17.28
2003 17.34 17.32 17.43 17.59 17.46 17.50 17.53 17.59 17.62 17.71 17.74 17.85
2004 17.86 17.94 18.02 17.97 18.01 18.18 18.09 18.05 18.05 18.09 18.22 18.37
2005 18.43 18.40 18.25 18.55 18.58 18.66 18.74 18.88 19.03 19.04 18.95 18.88(p)
2006 19.12(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES2000000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Construction
Industry: Construction
NAICS Code: 23
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 14.93 14.90 14.94 14.97 15.02 15.07 15.13 15.16 15.24 15.24 15.27 15.27
1997 15.44 15.51 15.46 15.51 15.58 15.62 15.63 15.71 15.78 15.82 15.87 15.95
1998 15.96 16.03 16.06 16.11 16.12 16.17 16.24 16.32 16.27 16.38 16.42 16.46
1999 16.49 16.46 16.57 16.61 16.73 16.81 16.82 16.83 16.90 16.99 17.01 17.06
2000 17.11 17.19 17.28 17.39 17.38 17.38 17.49 17.56 17.62 17.68 17.77 17.78
2001 17.87 17.89 17.92 17.80 17.93 17.99 17.98 18.04 17.99 18.06 18.13 18.24
2002 18.27 18.32 18.35 18.38 18.40 18.45 18.58 18.56 18.62 18.65 18.68 18.88
2003 18.76 18.80 18.83 18.87 18.94 18.98 18.96 18.99 19.01 19.01 19.04 19.06
2004 19.10 19.16 19.15 19.20 19.23 19.20 19.21 19.24 19.26 19.29 19.30 19.28
2005 19.23 19.28 19.34 19.38 19.37 19.43 19.52 19.51 19.54 19.58 19.59 19.64(p)
2006 19.65(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES3000000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Manufacturing
Industry: Manufacturing
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 12.60 12.56 12.50 12.69 12.70 12.76 12.79 12.82 12.85 12.84 12.88 12.95
1997 12.99 13.00 13.04 13.04 13.06 13.09 13.09 13.17 13.17 13.28 13.32 13.35
1998 13.34 13.39 13.43 13.41 13.45 13.43 13.34 13.46 13.53 13.52 13.54 13.56
1999 13.59 13.63 13.69 13.75 13.81 13.85 13.91 13.95 14.01 14.00 14.00 14.07
2000 14.12 14.14 14.18 14.23 14.23 14.29 14.32 14.37 14.40 14.48 14.51 14.50
2001 14.48 14.55 14.58 14.64 14.69 14.74 14.82 14.84 14.88 14.89 14.95 15.01
2002 15.05 15.11 15.15 15.17 15.24 15.27 15.30 15.33 15.37 15.46 15.47 15.53
2003 15.58 15.61 15.64 15.63 15.69 15.72 15.74 15.79 15.83 15.82 15.90 15.92
2004 15.94 15.96 16.01 16.08 16.08 16.11 16.14 16.21 16.30 16.28 16.30 16.35
2005 16.38 16.42 16.43 16.48 16.54 16.56 16.58 16.65 16.60 16.71 16.68 16.71(p)
2006 16.74(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES0800000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Private service-providing
Industry: Private service-providing
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 11.39 11.41 11.45 11.48 11.50 11.57 11.58 11.62 11.66 11.69 11.74 11.77
1997 11.82 11.84 11.90 11.92 11.97 12.01 12.04 12.11 12.14 12.21 12.27 12.29
1998 12.34 12.39 12.44 12.49 12.53 12.57 12.61 12.67 12.70 12.73 12.76 12.79
1999 12.87 12.90 12.94 12.98 13.02 13.05 13.09 13.13 13.19 13.22 13.24 13.28
2000 13.33 13.37 13.42 13.48 13.52 13.57 13.62 13.66 13.72 13.77 13.82 13.89
2001 13.90 13.99 14.03 14.08 14.11 14.16 14.16 14.21 14.25 14.27 14.33 14.35
2002 14.35 14.37 14.41 14.43 14.48 14.54 14.56 14.62 14.66 14.71 14.75 14.80
2003 14.81 14.90 14.89 14.87 14.93 14.95 15.00 15.02 15.00 15.01 15.05 15.04
2004 15.08 15.11 15.13 15.17 15.22 15.25 15.28 15.34 15.36 15.38 15.40 15.43
2005 15.49 15.51 15.56 15.60 15.63 15.67 15.75 15.76 15.80 15.89 15.89 15.96(p)
2006 16.03(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES4000000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Trade, transportation, and utilities
Industry: Trade, transportation, and utilities
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 11.28 11.31 11.36 11.37 11.39 11.50 11.47 11.51 11.54 11.55 11.62 11.64
1997 11.68 11.72 11.78 11.79 11.83 11.87 11.90 11.96 11.97 12.04 12.11 12.11
1998 12.18 12.23 12.27 12.32 12.36 12.37 12.42 12.48 12.50 12.51 12.55 12.56
1999 12.63 12.64 12.67 12.72 12.76 12.79 12.84 12.89 12.93 12.96 12.99 13.03
2000 13.08 13.11 13.14 13.22 13.22 13.28 13.32 13.36 13.41 13.46 13.48 13.55
2001 13.52 13.58 13.61 13.64 13.67 13.71 13.68 13.71 13.77 13.77 13.82 13.87
2002 13.87 13.87 13.93 13.94 13.98 14.00 13.99 14.05 14.11 14.13 14.17 14.21
2003 14.20 14.28 14.29 14.25 14.31 14.34 14.37 14.39 14.38 14.40 14.44 14.42
2004 14.44 14.49 14.46 14.52 14.55 14.58 14.60 14.62 14.66 14.66 14.68 14.71
2005 14.78 14.77 14.81 14.86 14.87 14.89 15.00 14.98 14.98 15.05 15.04 15.10(p)
2006 15.11(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES4142000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Wholesale trade
Industry: Wholesale trade
NAICS Code: 42
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 13.55 13.57 13.67 13.67 13.71 13.83 13.81 13.85 13.92 13.91 14.03 14.08
1997 14.10 14.18 14.22 14.28 14.32 14.35 14.41 14.53 14.54 14.60 14.71 14.71
1998 14.76 14.84 14.87 14.92 15.04 15.04 15.12 15.20 15.19 15.27 15.31 15.30
1999 15.41 15.44 15.47 15.51 15.56 15.58 15.66 15.69 15.76 15.84 15.82 15.87
2000 15.95 15.96 15.97 16.08 16.15 16.28 16.27 16.33 16.43 16.47 16.56 16.68
2001 16.65 16.72 16.76 16.74 16.74 16.80 16.75 16.74 16.82 16.74 16.75 16.85
2002 16.80 16.82 16.89 16.89 16.94 16.93 16.97 17.03 17.05 17.10 17.16 17.16
2003 17.18 17.28 17.28 17.29 17.32 17.36 17.38 17.42 17.44 17.45 17.46 17.45
2004 17.52 17.53 17.52 17.59 17.63 17.66 17.69 17.69 17.73 17.76 17.81 17.85
2005 17.88 17.93 17.95 18.03 18.01 18.10 18.22 18.21 18.26 18.32 18.45 18.58(p)
2006 18.56(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES4200000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Retail trade
Industry: Retail trade
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 9.02 9.05 9.10 9.12 9.15 9.25 9.20 9.24 9.26 9.31 9.35 9.38
1997 9.41 9.46 9.51 9.50 9.53 9.59 9.59 9.63 9.64 9.71 9.77 9.76
1998 9.84 9.87 9.93 9.98 10.01 10.03 10.08 10.13 10.18 10.16 10.20 10.23
1999 10.27 10.29 10.31 10.36 10.40 10.43 10.48 10.52 10.53 10.56 10.59 10.62
2000 10.67 10.70 10.74 10.81 10.79 10.83 10.89 10.90 10.95 10.99 11.03 11.07
2001 11.07 11.14 11.16 11.20 11.24 11.30 11.28 11.32 11.36 11.41 11.50 11.49
2002 11.53 11.53 11.60 11.61 11.63 11.65 11.63 11.69 11.76 11.77 11.77 11.83
2003 11.84 11.86 11.86 11.81 11.88 11.90 11.92 11.94 11.94 11.94 11.96 11.95
2004 11.94 11.97 11.98 12.00 12.03 12.07 12.08 12.12 12.19 12.16 12.20 12.22
2005 12.31 12.29 12.31 12.35 12.36 12.35 12.45 12.41 12.35 12.43 12.35 12.39(p)
2006 12.42(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES4300000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Transportation and warehousing
Industry: Transportation and warehousing
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 13.30 13.36 13.37 13.38 13.41 13.51 13.49 13.51 13.51 13.46 13.53 13.53
1997 13.62 13.58 13.62 13.65 13.70 13.69 13.80 13.91 13.83 13.90 13.94 14.00
1998 14.00 14.04 14.08 14.14 14.11 14.11 14.18 14.16 14.15 14.16 14.15 14.21
1999 14.28 14.31 14.35 14.41 14.47 14.54 14.54 14.62 14.70 14.74 14.82 14.87
2000 14.90 14.92 14.96 15.00 14.99 15.01 15.02 15.13 15.14 15.20 15.17 15.17
2001 15.16 15.21 15.22 15.27 15.30 15.30 15.27 15.34 15.44 15.44 15.47 15.60
2002 15.61 15.59 15.63 15.67 15.71 15.75 15.73 15.77 15.82 15.91 16.00 16.02
2003 15.98 16.17 16.20 16.18 16.22 16.27 16.32 16.32 16.30 16.31 16.37 16.35
2004 16.47 16.54 16.36 16.48 16.51 16.55 16.55 16.61 16.51 16.57 16.51 16.54
2005 16.55 16.51 16.61 16.60 16.64 16.66 16.75 16.78 16.82 16.82 16.85 16.85(p)
2006 16.90(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES4422000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Utilities
Industry: Utilities
NAICS Code: 22
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 19.41 19.54 19.53 19.53 19.67 19.74 19.67 19.88 20.07 20.00 20.16 20.17
1997 20.20 20.29 20.48 20.45 20.53 20.65 20.65 20.71 20.60 20.86 20.93 20.81
1998 21.26 21.33 21.21 21.35 21.35 21.41 21.43 21.61 21.63 21.77 21.84 21.52
1999 21.88 21.79 21.93 21.93 21.90 21.91 22.21 22.14 22.23 22.15 22.01 22.28
2000 22.42 22.46 22.52 22.73 22.73 22.77 22.95 22.78 22.93 22.94 22.71 23.27
2001 23.05 23.24 23.39 23.58 23.63 23.69 23.55 23.60 23.72 23.78 23.83 23.96
2002 23.78 23.78 23.83 23.74 23.89 24.00 23.93 24.11 24.21 23.95 24.11 24.27
2003 24.02 24.33 24.45 24.40 24.61 24.71 24.80 25.09 25.08 25.23 25.39 25.24
2004 25.32 25.44 25.36 25.66 25.50 25.45 25.57 25.54 25.65 25.93 25.84 25.90
2005 26.13 26.09 26.29 26.42 26.47 26.39 26.98 26.84 26.95 27.17 27.15 27.21(p)
2006 27.18(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES5000000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Information
Industry: Information
NAICS Code: 51
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 15.94 16.01 16.09 16.14 16.22 16.27 16.28 16.38 16.44 16.49 16.61 16.70
1997 16.87 16.84 16.94 16.94 16.93 17.09 17.15 17.33 17.31 17.31 17.36 17.40
1998 17.45 17.49 17.45 17.43 17.46 17.55 17.63 17.81 17.76 17.89 17.93 17.98
1999 18.04 18.17 18.23 18.37 18.42 18.43 18.48 18.47 18.52 18.47 18.51 18.60
2000 18.66 18.74 18.89 18.91 18.99 19.06 19.15 19.14 19.17 19.35 19.44 19.42
2001 19.55 19.68 19.62 19.75 19.72 19.83 19.83 19.87 19.86 19.89 19.97 19.96
2002 19.93 19.89 19.96 20.01 20.11 20.34 20.13 20.06 20.34 20.44 20.49 20.66
2003 20.67 20.76 20.86 20.89 21.01 21.07 21.18 21.19 21.16 21.12 21.12 20.93
2004 21.15 21.24 21.26 21.28 21.43 21.31 21.40 21.52 21.62 21.52 21.51 21.61
2005 21.73 21.57 21.72 21.92 21.92 22.04 22.17 22.21 22.32 22.65 22.40 22.65(p)
2006 22.99(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES5500000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Financial activities
Industry: Financial activities
NAICS Code: 52
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 12.52 12.56 12.62 12.63 12.66 12.69 12.72 12.75 12.78 12.82 12.90 12.87
1997 12.91 12.92 13.00 12.97 13.10 13.16 13.21 13.37 13.40 13.46 13.50 13.52
1998 13.58 13.67 13.72 13.81 13.85 13.91 13.94 14.00 14.01 14.09 14.17 14.25
1999 14.31 14.35 14.37 14.41 14.47 14.46 14.53 14.52 14.55 14.59 14.63 14.64
2000 14.70 14.74 14.81 14.89 14.92 14.96 14.96 15.01 15.09 15.13 15.17 15.26
2001 15.31 15.40 15.48 15.47 15.54 15.58 15.63 15.63 15.66 15.70 15.79 15.86
2002 15.83 15.86 15.89 15.94 16.00 16.08 16.14 16.30 16.38 16.50 16.54 16.61
2003 16.73 16.84 16.86 16.96 17.03 17.17 17.36 17.38 17.28 17.25 17.31 17.31
2004 17.38 17.36 17.43 17.46 17.51 17.48 17.50 17.55 17.60 17.65 17.63 17.71
2005 17.69 17.74 17.81 17.85 17.81 17.87 17.95 17.92 18.01 18.09 18.20 18.24(p)
2006 18.29(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES6000000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Professional and business services
Industry: Professional and business services
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 12.78 12.80 12.84 12.88 12.90 12.96 12.99 13.05 13.12 13.14 13.23 13.26
1997 13.31 13.34 13.39 13.41 13.47 13.50 13.53 13.62 13.64 13.75 13.83 13.88
1998 13.90 13.98 14.06 14.16 14.21 14.26 14.32 14.36 14.47 14.46 14.49 14.52
1999 14.63 14.64 14.71 14.74 14.78 14.84 14.89 14.95 15.04 15.05 15.04 15.09
2000 15.16 15.22 15.28 15.30 15.40 15.48 15.53 15.61 15.68 15.73 15.81 15.92
2001 15.97 16.07 16.16 16.25 16.26 16.32 16.37 16.44 16.48 16.49 16.55 16.56
2002 16.65 16.64 16.64 16.66 16.65 16.79 16.88 16.86 16.90 16.98 17.03 17.07
2003 17.01 17.16 17.18 17.22 17.22 17.19 17.20 17.21 17.22 17.24 17.30 17.27
2004 17.28 17.27 17.31 17.33 17.41 17.46 17.49 17.62 17.60 17.66 17.67 17.73
2005 17.81 17.85 17.88 17.94 17.98 18.03 18.11 18.14 18.15 18.30 18.29 18.40(p)
2006 18.55(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES6500000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Education and health services
Industry: Education and health services
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 12.03 12.03 12.06 12.09 12.11 12.15 12.17 12.20 12.24 12.27 12.30 12.34
1997 12.37 12.40 12.45 12.47 12.50 12.54 12.56 12.60 12.63 12.69 12.74 12.77
1998 12.79 12.83 12.87 12.93 12.96 12.99 12.98 13.08 13.09 13.12 13.15 13.17
1999 13.22 13.26 13.30 13.34 13.38 13.42 13.45 13.49 13.55 13.60 13.61 13.64
2000 13.66 13.71 13.75 13.81 13.87 13.93 13.98 14.03 14.07 14.12 14.18 14.24
2001 14.31 14.39 14.44 14.52 14.57 14.62 14.67 14.72 14.76 14.81 14.88 14.93
2002 14.89 15.00 15.04 15.01 15.13 15.16 15.21 15.34 15.36 15.41 15.44 15.50
2003 15.55 15.58 15.55 15.47 15.56 15.58 15.61 15.71 15.68 15.73 15.78 15.82
2004 15.88 15.94 15.99 16.05 16.10 16.15 16.20 16.24 16.27 16.30 16.33 16.37
2005 16.41 16.47 16.55 16.58 16.64 16.69 16.76 16.79 16.84 16.90 16.95 16.99(p)
2006 17.05(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES7000000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Leisure and hospitality
Industry: Leisure and hospitality
NAICS Code: N/A
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 6.69 6.70 6.71 6.73 6.75 6.80 6.83 6.85 6.85 6.94 6.94 6.98
1997 6.99 7.01 7.04 7.05 7.08 7.09 7.11 7.15 7.23 7.26 7.30 7.31
1998 7.34 7.35 7.40 7.43 7.44 7.47 7.50 7.53 7.55 7.55 7.56 7.59
1999 7.64 7.65 7.66 7.69 7.72 7.74 7.76 7.79 7.81 7.85 7.88 7.90
2000 7.92 7.97 8.01 8.06 8.08 8.10 8.14 8.16 8.20 8.22 8.25 8.25
2001 8.24 8.29 8.32 8.33 8.34 8.35 8.36 8.39 8.40 8.40 8.41 8.42
2002 8.45 8.46 8.48 8.52 8.55 8.58 8.60 8.62 8.63 8.62 8.68 8.73
2003 8.71 8.78 8.73 8.73 8.75 8.78 8.79 8.78 8.78 8.78 8.79 8.83
2004 8.83 8.87 8.88 8.86 8.87 8.87 8.90 8.92 8.94 8.98 9.02 9.01
2005 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.09 9.10 9.12 9.13 9.16 9.22 9.22 9.24 9.26(p)
2006 9.26(p)
p : preliminary


Series Id: CES8000000006
Seasonally Adjusted
Super Sector: Other services
Industry: Other services
NAICS Code: 81
Data Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 10.69 10.71 10.73 10.77 10.80 10.83 10.87 10.88 10.93 10.95 10.99 11.03
1997 11.08 11.11 11.16 11.19 11.21 11.25 11.27 11.34 11.39 11.43 11.48 11.52
1998 11.55 11.60 11.64 11.71 11.73 11.78 11.81 11.85 11.88 11.92 11.95 11.98
1999 12.04 12.09 12.14 12.18 12.22 12.25 12.29 12.32 12.36 12.40 12.43 12.44
2000 12.50 12.53 12.57 12.64 12.69 12.71 12.76 12.79 12.83 12.86 12.91 12.94
2001 12.98 13.02 13.04 13.17 13.23 13.28 13.31 13.36 13.41 13.44 13.47 13.49
2002 13.52 13.55 13.60 13.59 13.62 13.70 13.77 13.82 13.82 13.87 13.89 13.93
2003 13.96 14.00 13.85 13.78 13.79 13.81 13.82 13.82 13.81 13.80 13.81 13.83
2004 13.85 13.87 13.90 13.93 13.95 13.98 13.99 14.01 14.06 14.08 14.12 14.13
2005 14.17 14.20 14.24 14.26 14.30 14.31 14.35 14.39 14.40 14.46 14.46 14.49(p)
2006 14.52(p)
p : preliminary

 

[dmp]

To me, my parents are proof that the American form of free market enterprise works and that tinkering with it to achieve some perceived social good is folly. I can understand the good intentions of some of posters on this board, motivated by concern for others for a living wage. However, the fact is that it has been shown and is agreed by almost all economists not to work. So to help your fellow man, instead of proposing something that, will eventually hurt them, instead, we should remove unnecessary government meddling in our pocketbooks and our lives thenlet the natural ability of people to better themselves run its natural course.

I can tell you that your parents are not alone. My father used to run a non-profit org helping Slavic immigrants in our area. He knows hundreds and hundreds of families who arrived here w/o speaking English and now make 6-digit incomes through not much more than hard work.

Those in america who are poor, are Likely poor because they don't work hard 'enough'.

 

[MtnBiker]

Those in america who are poor, are Likely poor because they don't work hard 'enough'.

No no no, they are poor because CEO are paid to much and there isn't enough money to go around to be morally correct to the average worker.

 

[GotZoom]

No no no, they are poor because CEO are paid to much and there isn't enough money to go around to be morally correct to the average worker.

No no no, they are poor because of President Bush.

Everything is his fault.

 

[Hobbit]

Ok, I gotta stick in my 2 cents.

This is a free market economy, and is governed by supply and demand. The more something costs to buy, the less that will be bought and the more that will be made. The market always fluctuates in an effort to bring the price to a level where there is no waste, meaning that everything made is bought and nobody is left wanting. If you view both of them as a graph showing the curve of what something costs compared to how much of something is bought/made, where they cross is the ideal price.

The same applies to labor. The only reason wages are at the rate they're at is because as many people are willing to work for that wage as there are employers willing to pay people that wage. If the market is allowed to fluctuate naturally, there may be some people who have to lower their standard of living a bit or work two jobs, but that is only because the labor they have to offer isn't worth much. They're still willing to work for it, though. It's not happy, sure, but it's reality. It's why I'm going to college, to raise the value of my labor.

Now, every once in a while, the government feels the need to interfere with the market with minimum prices above the natural price or maximum prices below the natural price. In the case of a price cap, you have more of the stuff being bought than being made, causing a shortage. We've seen this before with gas prices, which caused a rush on fuel in the 70s, necessitating even more regulations in the form of rations. On the other side, we have minimum wage, which is a price minimum, which, first of all, interferes with competition. You can't compete with your the other guy over this job if you can't undercut his price. Then, when there's a minimum price, more is being made than bought, leading to a surplus. We have a word for surplus labor, unemployment. If a company is forced to pay $8/hour for labor, it will simply purchase fewer hours of labor, leading to massive layoffs.

BTW, unions make more slaves than corporations. You are allowed to bargain with a corporation. If I don't like what I'm being paid, I can ask for more money in return for continuing to work. However, if a company is unionized, and I want a job bad enough to work for less than the usual wage, it doesn't matter, because I have to either work for the union wage or nothing, and if the company can't afford to hire me at union wages, that leaves me with nothing.

You union junkies only see the short term. Companies don't pay less than $8/hour because they want to stick it to their employees. On the contrary, keeping their employees happy is one of the best ways to keep business booming. They pay less than $8/hour because they can't afford to pay more without raising prices (making them less competitive) and there are people willing to work for what they can afford. If you want to see this kind of great company/employee relations for yourself, look up Publix Supermarkets, which I currently work for, and I actually make more than $8/hour now because I have been faithful to them with quality labor.

 

[G Edward Cook]

Hi Mr P. All kinds of jobs. When there aren't enough jobs in an area the price goes down. This is how it works in third world countries. If we let corporations send the jobs out side the US there will be less jobs in the USA and the wages will keep going down until the US becomes a third world country. We have three choices.
1. We can let the corporations do whatever they want and let them turn the USA into a third world country, If you think they care about America you are sadly mistaken.

2. We could level the field with minimum wage laws , unions and give rights to the people the same as we do the corporations. Ask yourself, Why should the corporations have more rights than American Citizens?

3. We the people can END corporations or very much limit their power as Washington, Madison and Jefferson wanted. They warned us about the dangers to democracy if corporations got too big. The USA is a country Of the People, By the People and For the People, not the Corporations. The people MUST COME FIRST, ALL THE PEOPLE!!! REMEMBER: Most corporations are owned partly and often mostly by FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Ask yourself, do you want choice 1, 2 or 3?

Here is a quote from a guy named Benito Mussolini, he was a guy that believed in corporations. This quote was printed in the news papers in Italy in the 1920s: "Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power." Mussolini then replaced the Representatives of the people in Italy with Representatives of the corporations ( CEOs). Germany and Japan did the same. History seams to repeat itself. Can you think of a country today that is being run by CEOs? If you think you are so smart and so educated to be above this, THINK AGAIN!! When Hitler made his Preempted Attack on Poland ( because they were a threat to Germany, HA HA) the first thing he did in Poland was to EXECUTE ALL THE EDUCATED PEOPLE!!

If you really care about America as I do, you should think hard on this one.
PS: This is mot off subject, it is "Economic History"

Sorry, I was going to respond to all the replies; however, I lost my train of though. I get carried away when I think about what is happening to America, it's just not the same country I knew and I must fight to TAKE BACK AMERICA!!
Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

 

[GotZoom]

Hi Mr P. All kinds of jobs. When there aren't enough jobs in an area the price goes down. This is how it works in third world countries. If we let corporations send the jobs out side the US there will be less jobs in the USA and the wages will keep going down until the US becomes a third world country. We have three choices.
1. We can let the corporations do whatever they want and let them turn the USA into a third world country, If you think they care about America you are sadly mistaken.

2. We could level the field with minimum wage laws , unions and give rights to the people the same as we do the corporations. Ask yourself, Why should the corporations have more rights than American Citizens?

3. We the people can END corporations or very much limit their power as Washington, Madison and Jefferson wanted. They warned us about the dangers to democracy if corporations got too big. The USA is a country Of the People, By the People and For the People, not the Corporations. The people MUST COME FIRST, ALL THE PEOPLE!!! REMEMBER: Most corporations are owned partly and often mostly by FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Ask yourself, do you want choice 1, 2 or 3?

Here is a quote from a guy named Benito Mussolini, he was a guy that believed in corporations. This quote was printed in the news papers in Italy in the 1920s: "Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power." Mussolini then replaced the Representatives of the people in Italy with Representatives of the corporations ( CEOs). Germany and Japan did the same. History seams to repeat itself. Can you think of a country today that is being run by CEOs? If you think you are so smart and so educated to be above this, THINK AGAIN!! When Hitler made his Preempted Attack on Poland ( because they were a threat to Germany, HA HA) the first thing he did in Poland was to EXECUTE ALL THE EDUCATED PEOPLE!!

If you really care about America as I do, you should think hard on this one.
PS: This is mot off subject, it is "Economic History"

Sorry, I was going to respond to all the replies; however, I lost my train of though. I get carried away when I think about what is happening to America, it's just not the same country I knew and I must fight to TAKE BACK AMERICA!!
Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

If you get this sidetracked by postings on a message board, I would hate to see you in a debate.

Then again, you may not want to answer the other questions so you pull out the old, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" approach.

 

[Mr. P]

Hi Mr P. All kinds of jobs. When there aren't enough jobs in an area the price goes down. This is how it works in third world countries. If we let corporations send the jobs out side the US there will be less jobs in the USA and the wages will keep going down until the US becomes a third world country. ....

But, but wait! In all the tables I posted wages have increased since 1996. Haven't jobs been going outside the US since 1996? Yes, of course they have.
So, how do you explain the increase, magic?

 

[GotZoom]

But, but wait! In all the tables I posted wages have increased since 1996. Haven't jobs been going outside the US since 1996? Yes, of course they have.
So, how do you explain the increase, magic?

He can't.

He's too busy getting carried away with thinking about what is happening to America.

 

[G Edward Cook]

Hi Insein, Nice gun on your picture, but I like mine better. I'm talking about the one on my site that says "I'm a Liberal Democrat that doesn't want to take you guns away." As for your question, $5.15 is immoral because a person cannot work enough hours to survive. $8 per hour is about the minimum a person working hard can survive. $20 per hour is Union wages.

Here is a question for all of the people who are against the minimum wage: If $8 per hour is so low that nobody gets paid that little, what is the problem. Let me repeat myself: If everyone makes more than $8 per hour, as I am being told over and over again, then what is the problem with raising the minimum wage to $8? Everyone already makes more than that anyway!!!

I love being a Liberal Democrat in a mostly Republican Conservative site. See Democrats have balls!!! I'm not afraid of 1,000 to one, I'm gonna make you my BASE!!!

Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

 

[G Edward Cook]

Mr P, That is an impressive list from the DOL. If I made a list of all the workers in my town that made about $8 or less, sadly but true, my list would be longer than yours. I walked into the bank across the street from a French owned factory on a Friday during lunch. There was a line of workers so long wanting to cash their checks that I was standing at the door and couldn't close it. Being the wise guy I am I said, "There won't be any money left by the time I get to the counter" A man turned and said: "Yes there will, this is a Gentex line" everyone in the bank laughed and agreed. The truth is, few if any of the workers on that line cleared over $300 for the week. I am not kidding.
If the wages are so high, how come in NJ, one of the highest paid states, there are 220,000 workers making less than $6.50 per hour? That is not my figure, it is the Newark Star Leger's figure.

Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

 

[rtwngAvngr]

C. Everett, were you in The Outsiders?

Stay gold.

 

[insein]

Hi Insein, Nice gun on your picture, but I like mine better. I'm talking about the one on my site that says "I'm a Liberal Democrat that doesn't want to take you guns away." As for your question, $5.15 is immoral because a person cannot work enough hours to survive. $8 per hour is about the minimum a person working hard can survive. $20 per hour is Union wages.

Here is a question for all of the people who are against the minimum wage: If $8 per hour is so low that nobody gets paid that little, what is the problem. Let me repeat myself: If everyone makes more than $8 per hour, as I am being told over and over again, then what is the problem with raising the minimum wage to $8? Everyone already makes more than that anyway!!!

I love being a Liberal Democrat in a mostly Republican Conservative site. See Democrats have balls!!! I'm not afraid of 1,000 to one, I'm gonna make you my BASE!!!

Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

Nice dodge.

Why is $8 the magic number. Why is $20 deemed union wages? What if i want to hire non union members. Shouldnt i be forced to pay a non union worker as much as the union one? How is that fair that a union worker gets paid more then an unskilled worker? Its immoral.

You line of thought isnt very deep. If we raise the minimum wage to support some, whose to say others can't live off of that wage either? We have to raise it higher to make everyone happy right? We can't have unhappy people in this world.

 

[GotZoom]

Mr P, That is an impressive list from the DOL. If I made a list of all the workers in my town that made about $8 or less, sadly but true, my list would be longer than yours. I walked into the bank across the street from a French owned factory on a Friday during lunch. There was a line of workers so long wanting to cash their checks that I was standing at the door and couldn't close it. Being the wise guy I am I said, "There won't be any money left by the time I get to the counter" A man turned and said: "Yes there will, this is a Gentex line" everyone in the bank laughed and agreed. The truth is, few if any of the workers on that line cleared over $300 for the week. I am not kidding.
If the wages are so high, how come in NJ, one of the highest paid states, there are 220,000 workers making less than $6.50 per hour? That is not my figure, it is the Newark Star Leger's figure.

Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

You have answered everyone's question but mine so let's try this again.

Those 220,000 workers making less than $6.50 per hour:

What is their education level?
Nationality?
What jobs are they doing?

 

[G Edward Cook]

Me P, I see what you are talking about, This is in part because because Union wages always go up. There are less Jobs than there were in 1996. If there were more lower paying jobs lost, the average wage would go up. I know the in NEPA the non union pay has gone down. The minimum wage also hasn't gone up in years.

I must go, I am in NH and I must get some sleep. I'm leaving at midnight/. Nice talking to you. Are you ready to join my base, you must move to PA!!!

Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

 

[insein]

Me P, I see what you are talking about, This is in part because because Union wages always go up. There are less Jobs than there were in 1996. If there were more lower paying jobs lost, the average wage would go up. I know the in NEPA the non union pay has gone down. The minimum wage also hasn't gone up in years.

I must go, I am in NH and I must get some sleep. I'm leaving at midnight/. Nice talking to you. Are you ready to join my base, you must move to PA!!!

Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

PA? wth is he running for again? IF its anything Federal, he is definitely getting a no vote for him. I doubt he's in my district.

 

[G Edward Cook]

Dear Gotzoom,
I don't know. I would guess they are unskilled; however, they should still make enough to survive. Would you prefer they collect welfare? I really don't know.
Sincerely,
G Edward Cook

 

[dmp]

Answer the discussion about immigrants and their ability to pull themselves from Poverty to Riches. Explain what makes Americans so lazy? Here's how to get people off wellfare - reduce it. Make an $10/hr job pay MORE than what they get for doing nothing but having more kids, while on wellfare.