kerley
Member
Yes but in a supply and demand model there will always be more supply than demand for low skilled (due to the obvious fact that anyone can do it).If supply dried up because the people moved to do more skilled work or just less people to do the work then the wages would rise.
Unless there is a supply of cheap labour to import.
And none of those things can be done without the army of low paid “unskilled” workers.
Not untrue, but in many cases, the more expensive manual labour is the greater the chance it will be automated.
Not necessarily a bad thing. I work in the construction industry. The last 50 years has seen mechanisation and prefabrication drastically reduce the proportion of unskilled labour doing dangerous and exhausting work. (Although as a separate argument, the lack of career progression for those who do fill the unskilled jobs is potentially worse).
No private business is really big enough to care that employing more people and/or on a higher wage = higher number of customers for them. Providing a bigger/better/faster/cheaper service to anyone who wishes to be their customer is their aim.
n0b0dy0ftheg0at
Member
It will never happen, but I think a few things need to happen in the housing market…
No second+ homes in the UK, closing all dodgy loopholes such as house #3 is “owned” by second son Jack, aged 6
No private renting of complete UK homes and getting an income/living off other people’s need/right to have a home over their heads, with the exception of spare room bedsits in the same home as landlord
Almost all UK higher education students must be accomodated in student halls of residence provided by the uni they are enrolled with, with exception of those in bedsitsJust in Southampton alone, the number of available basic but liveable and really affordable homes for keyworkers would go through the roof.
You'd get my vote sir....
I recently looked at the local council housing list. 22 properties available to cover the whole county..... Unbelievable..
It will never happen, but I think a few things need to happen in the housing market…
No second+ homes in the UK, closing all dodgy loopholes such as house #3 is “owned” by second son Jack, aged 6
No private renting of complete UK homes and getting an income/living off other people’s need/right to have a home over their heads, with the exception of spare room bedsits in the same home as landlord
I don't think that is the answer. Some folk do not want to buy or are unable to buy. I think the answer is back to controlled rents and secure tenancies like we had in the 80s. We have already moved to a more secure tenancy in scotland and controlled rents with proper fitness inspections takes a lot of the dodgy landlords out
Build more social housing as well council or housing association.
ayjaydoubleyou
And who builds the prefab bits in the factories? Who moves them on site?
Push to end low pay may have to be scrapped, UK government warned
And so it starts. the inevitable tory pushback against the public desire for fair pay. NO surprie there. No hint of taxing the rich more.
Low pay commission is of course not independent in any meaningful way and the right wing "think tanks~" are pushing hard to stop pay rises.
Tj, the factory workers are probably higher skilled and more importantly computer literate. The site workers will be telehandler qualified or probably crane operators, again not basic labouring jobs for many.
Speaking to people I know who work these types of jobs the biggest improvement in their working lives would be to be respected by their customers.
This. These jobs are seen as shite and so youngsters in particular, refuse to do them. Wealth redistribution should be more effective through taxation - just increasing lower earner wages will change little. As a teacher for years, we fought for increased pay (though for many this was seen as recognition of hard work and commitment to the job). When pay rises came, they were always accompanied by higher expectations and worsening of conditions and generally morale.
How many low wage earners struggle and save to buy overpriced branded clothing and luxury goods - why do we think these make us happy?
Improved conditions/contracts, health care, pensions and public recognition at least as important as increased pay. One of those has improved, for a while at least.
Tj, the factory workers are probably higher skilled and more importantly computer literate. The site workers will be telehandler qualified or probably crane operators, again not basic labouring jobs for many.
Yes, to really oversimplify it: New way = Skilled factory worker, skilled delivery driver, skilled crane operator; skilled installer. Vs the old way of one skilled carpenter/brickie/whatever + 3 people fetching and carrying for him.
And don't forget earthworks. What took 10 men with shovels and barrows a week of backbreaking labour can be done in a morning by 2 men who don't even have to stand up.
And who builds the prefab bits in the factories? Who moves them on site?
Other have said it but skilled labour. Sounds like you have a image of factories of the past in your head with loads of unskilled labour, most modern factories have more and more skilled labour these days and less and less unskilled. There are some unskilled jobs, particularly in smaller factories but it's reducing all the time.
