Soapbox

Soapbox : Good Jobs

Of late, whenever our county officials bring forward a prospective industry desiring to locate in Currituck, the first words out of our official’s collective mouths is, “[insert this week's candidate] will bring good jobs to Currituck.”

Upon delving deeper beneath the surface of the prospect of good jobs, one is quick to find that the jobs being created are mostly minimum wage jobs ranging from part-time to full-time employment. Many of these businesses will have only a handful of management level positions which earn a decent wage, and those will more likely than not be filled by existing staff moved into the area.

Why are our county officials so content with these good minimum wage jobs? A minimum wage earner can barely afford to rent a house in Currituck - if he or she can find one to rent - and then they can only accomplish that feat by holding more than one of those “good” minimum wage positions.

Buying and owning a home - the American Dream - is far out of reach for those working these “good jobs” at minimum wage. With home prices rapidly approaching $200,000, a worker would have to earn over $20 per hour, a household income of $36,000 per year after taxes.

The last time we checked, minimum wage was nowhere near $18 per hour.

The jobs promised by county officials are not “good jobs”, they are minimum wage jobs held by students, summer help, part time employees, or those who can’t possibly hold another job. The last group proves worrisome, in that they place added burden on the social services system in our community, making us all pay a higher price to support those who hold the so called “good jobs”.

A REAL good job equates to employment that provides a working family the income to purchase a home, a car or amenities in Currituck, and contribute positively to our community. Truly good jobs provide benefits such as health, dental and life insurance, and paid vacation.

We should hope that our elected and appointed officials have greater goals and aspirations for our children and the residents of this community than minimum wage jobs.

If the best that our county officials are willing to accept as good jobs are those that pay only minimum wage, then perhaps we need to find someone with higher goals and vision to recruit and promote those businesses which create really GOOD JOBS into our community.

This post has been viewed 282 time(s)

© 2005 NE NC News.