I’m a guy in my 40s and I want to paint the picture what work was like for me when entering the work force. I say this as an ally, not to brag about my fortune. I say this to show the different world that people entering the workforce face today.
I got a job at a customer service call center in college (in 1998) making 11.50 an hour. I used that job to start my career. Even part time, it allowed me to pay my rent ($520 a month rent, split in half with a roommate, and about $150 in household expenses, leaving me about $100 a week for food and entertainment, which I managed to do without much trouble).
The other day I was attempting to help a friends son look up job openings by showing them the various job hunting websites. I saw a posting for the same part time customer service job at the same company I worked at back in 1998.
The starting rate? 10.50. A dollar less than I made 25 years ago. When I paid $410 for rent and expenses.