WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Honestly, it blows my mind how out of touch some older folks are with what it actually takes to live today. Saying "we need more $50-75k jobs" is kind of laughable-you'd barely cover rent, a used car, and bills at that. A new car easily runs $30-40k, buying a house in a decent neighborhood basically needs dual six-figure incomes, and even taking a simple vacation feels like a luxury. Life just isn't that cheap anymore, and a lot of people don't seem to realize it.

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That's not what he's saying. He makes the point that growth in jobs at the lower end of earnings is typically associated with a robust economy which creates an opportunity for the middle class to expand. A robust economy create better odds for poor people to grow into the lower middle class, and for the lower middle class to grow into upper middle class. A rising tide lifts all boats.

We still need those lower paying jobs as a gateway to higher paying jobs. Two earners at $75k isn't upper middle class, but it's not exactly poor either.

Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Honestly, it blows my mind how out of touch some older folks are with what it actually takes to live today. Saying "we need more $50-75k jobs" is kind of laughable-you'd barely cover rent, a used car, and bills at that. A new car easily runs $30-40k, buying a house in a decent neighborhood basically needs dual six-figure incomes, and even taking a simple vacation feels like a luxury. Life just isn't that cheap anymore, and a lot of people don't seem to realize it.

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This is completely false. It's clear many of you think you need to live with the Joneses in order to not be poor. 75k a year is by no means poor and certainly above the middle class threshold.

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In DFW, even if a household qualifies around $110-120k for a median-priced home, that's really just the bare minimum, it's not what actually gets you into a safe neighborhood with decent schools. Most listings in those areas, places like McKinney, Prosper, Little Elm, or parts of Allen are $400-500k+, which kinda pushes the income you actually need closer to $130-165k once you add in taxes, upkeep, competition and all that. That's before cars, insurance, groceries, even a vacation-so yeah, two $75k earners are often stretched pretty thin. Saying this is "keeping up with the Joneses" is kinda hyperbolic, I'm not talking Southlake or Highland Park, just normal decent areas with good schools and low crime. Unless you think "Keeping up with the Joneses" =/ wanting to move to an area with people like me, as many of the areas I mentioned are now majority Indian. Those areas are even more expensive and unattainable with this income.

Govt numbers aren't to be believed. Ever. Republican or Democrat.

50-75k certainly puts you in a tough spot. You can make less and net more due to government handouts.

The climb from 50k to 100k+ is quite difficult since the system has the built in benefit cliffs. You are almost disincentivized (but for your own desire to do better) to even climb that ladder given the current arrangement.

infinity ag said:

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aggie93 said:

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infinity ag said:

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aggie93 said:

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AI and Robotics are part of this, getting rid of government jobs is part of this, and cracking down on illegals is part of this. That doesn't even get into how flawed the jobs numbers are to begin with. Doesn't mean that the job market is good or bad it's just very hard to read.

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AI is thrown around but no company has told us how they are using the new AI tech which needs them to cut jobs. They do big talk and then hire in India. Yes, the same companies who fired people for not being able to return to office (after being hired remotely). Their jobs are done remotely in India.

So I don't buy that AI is replacing any jobs. A very very small percent sure, as it is a tool for a human. A screwdriver cannot replace a carpenter.

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Have you looked at what has happened in Amazon warehouses? It's a robot farm. Same thing is happening across all kinds of manufacturing and warehousing. Waymo and Tesla are going to take out Uber in the next couple of years, seeing the Tesla driverless taxis in Downtown Austin for less than half the cost and you don't have to tip is a no brainer. Companies need fewer programmers to do more. That's why you see GDP and productivity starting to take off and employment is only going up modestly, especially in combination with the decrease in government jobs and illegal immigration enforcement. We now have fewer Federal employees than at any time since the 1960s and that has gone from the highest amount since the end of the Cold War when we reduced the military (not counting temporary census workers). It's dropping like a rock as well, we aren't close to done.

My company has virtually shut down all H-1B hiring and previously that was a huge percentage and we aren't offshoring. We are struggling to find talent though.

There are many things going on simultaneously that are impacting the numbers for good and bad and that's without looking at how flawed the way we do employment numbers is to begin with. The biggest thing that makes no sense to me is your railing against Trump of all people on H-1s. I've been recruiting for over 30 years and the shift in the last year against H-1s is more dramatic than anything I have ever seen by a factor of 10 and it's all coming from Trump's policies.

These things don't turn on a dime in terms of statistics but make no mistake there is big movement. It's kind of like how Chinese exports to the US have dropped off the table to the level of when China joined the WTO and falling. There are some dramatic shifts happening in the economy that are mostly very positive but it's a reset from what we have known for the last several decades. You can't look at things through the same lens as before or else you won't see what is happening.

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Amazon is a pioneer in robotics for warehouses at a large scale. No doubt. But they have been leading for many years, the recent AI models have not much to do with it. Tell me one use case that GenAI has done other than chatbots or some kind of summarization of reports that Amazon has used to lay off 30000 people. If you tell me that, I would like to work on it and add it to my resume! :-)

H1B points, all good and I love hearing your perspective on it. I am just frustrated by the slowish speed of it but I guess Trump is going as fast as actually possible. However my worry is I hear H1Bs conspiring about using other kinds of visas like L1, EB1 etc to sneak in. What is Trump doing about that? Has he emasculated the H4 dependent visa? Why do people get OPT even now? H1B moves are great but that solves a small problem, the looting is far more than that.

I want to clarify that I am with Trump on this, I want him to do more, and I am also a 3 time Trump voter. My concern is what if the Dems win in 3 years, all the gains will be gone and we will be back to Indian invasions.

Things are looking up and I myself have been getting many more calls compared to last year. I'm talking to 7 companies right now at the same time. Let's see if anything works out or I am just a US citizen checkbox to show to USDOL before they renew an existing H1B.

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You can't solve every visa issue in a year, I don't know what you are expecting. The changes have been dramatic and they are having a massive impact, it just takes time for that to trickle down. For instance they aren't going to end people's visas that already have been through the process, especially those who have their I-140 on the way to a Green Card. This is more about the future supply. The folks on OPT now and in school on F-1 are screwed for the most part and it is going to be very hard for people currently on H-1 to change jobs because new companies are very hesitant to transfer and sponsor.

L-1 is for people working for a company for at least a year in their home country and then moved by that company to the US, there is no loophole and it has to be a decision by the company to move them. EB1's and O-1s are very, very hard to get. I had my first EB1 in a while btw for a German PhD with a list of patents and publications a mile long. O-1s are the same. If you don't have a PhD and a lot of publications, patents, and spoken at conferences they are very hard to obtain. Those are top talent people and many are European btw.

H-4/L-4 are another issue. I suppose they can crack down on letting spouses work but realize that if you have those visas you are tied to the H-1/L-1. It seems kind of silly to not allow them to work since they are here (and they are a fraction of the issue) but that can certainly be looked at.

H-1 is where the heart of the issue is, that's where the abuse is an the overwhelming path for folks that are sucking up a lot of the jobs.

infinity ag said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Honestly, it blows my mind how out of touch some older folks are with what it actually takes to live today. Saying "we need more $50-75k jobs" is kind of laughable-you'd barely cover rent, a used car, and bills at that. A new car easily runs $30-40k, buying a house in a decent neighborhood basically needs dual six-figure incomes, and even taking a simple vacation feels like a luxury. Life just isn't that cheap anymore, and a lot of people don't seem to realize it.

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Remember, so many of the same Boomers are running our biggest companies. JPMorgan and Apple are among them.

I don't think they are actually that dumb. They are just ensuring that everyone else stays clueless so they can make money from this. They are all investors as this point of their lives and want this grift to continue for a few more decades before they are gone (after that, who gives an F).

The same Boomers piously prescribe that Americans become plumbers and electricians making 100k while foreigner Indians many with fake degrees make 300k - 500k with tech jobs.

Here's poor Steve the landscaper working manual jobs for all his life with no retirement, while Rajesh the IT VP who got in through Infosys/Wipto/Tata pipeline, enjoying his retirement traveling the world.

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Actually the far more likely situation is "Steve" may start out that way but then starts his own business and likely hires a lot of illegals or he becomes a high dollar expert. If you have half a brain and some basic customer service ability you can build a great business if you have skills like Steve and make more than Rajesh.

Also anyone on the Infosys/Wipro/Tata pipeline is sweating bullets right now and will be lucky not to end up back in India.

Things really have changed radically in the last year, don't know how many times I have to tell you that. Yet you seem to be obsessed with screaming at Trump because he can't fix it all immediately. The pace of change is wild yet you are acting like none of it is happening.

WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Yesterday said:

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high paying jobs doesn't churn the economy. We need those 50-75k/year jobs to start cranking out positions. Those jobs buy cars, finance homes and go on yearly vacations. The middle class needs to grow!

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LOL, 50-75k doesn't get you nearly that far in most major cities. That's poor and just enough to get by in many places. Double those numbers.

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It's plenty if husband and wife are both pulling that

WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Honestly, it blows my mind how out of touch some older folks are with what it actually takes to live today. Saying "we need more $50-75k jobs" is kind of laughable-you'd barely cover rent, a used car, and bills at that. A new car easily runs $30-40k, buying a house in a decent neighborhood basically needs dual six-figure incomes, and even taking a simple vacation feels like a luxury. Life just isn't that cheap anymore, and a lot of people don't seem to realize it.

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This is completely false. It's clear many of you think you need to live with the Joneses in order to not be poor. 75k a year is by no means poor and certainly above the middle class threshold.

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In DFW, even if a household qualifies around $110-120k for a median-priced home, that's really just the bare minimum, it's not what actually gets you into a safe neighborhood with decent schools. Most listings in those areas, places like McKinney, Prosper, Little Elm, or parts of Allen are $400-500k+, which kinda pushes the income you actually need closer to $130-165k once you add in taxes, upkeep, competition and all that. That's before cars, insurance, groceries, even a vacation-so yeah, two $75k earners are often stretched pretty thin. Saying this is "keeping up with the Joneses" is kinda hyperbolic, I'm not talking Southlake or Highland Park, just normal decent areas with good schools and low crime. Unless you think "Keeping up with the Joneses" =/ wanting to move to an area with people like me, as many of the areas I mentioned are now majority Indian. Those areas are even more expensive and unattainable with this income.

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McKinney, prosper, Plano etc are typically not middle class. I'm talking Garland, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Fort Worth etc.

Middle class is not what may of y'all imagine. It's not the nice suburb and a newer Honda. It's Garland with a 2015 Chevy. But they can still afford to finance a home a car and go on vacation. I know because I literally see it. And they're very happy.

Depends on where. In DFW, if you want to live in a low crime area with decent schools and feel like you actually live in America, it's not.

Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Honestly, it blows my mind how out of touch some older folks are with what it actually takes to live today. Saying "we need more $50-75k jobs" is kind of laughable-you'd barely cover rent, a used car, and bills at that. A new car easily runs $30-40k, buying a house in a decent neighborhood basically needs dual six-figure incomes, and even taking a simple vacation feels like a luxury. Life just isn't that cheap anymore, and a lot of people don't seem to realize it.

---

This is completely false. It's clear many of you think you need to live with the Joneses in order to not be poor. 75k a year is by no means poor and certainly above the middle class threshold.

---

In DFW, even if a household qualifies around $110-120k for a median-priced home, that's really just the bare minimum, it's not what actually gets you into a safe neighborhood with decent schools. Most listings in those areas, places like McKinney, Prosper, Little Elm, or parts of Allen are $400-500k+, which kinda pushes the income you actually need closer to $130-165k once you add in taxes, upkeep, competition and all that. That's before cars, insurance, groceries, even a vacation-so yeah, two $75k earners are often stretched pretty thin. Saying this is "keeping up with the Joneses" is kinda hyperbolic, I'm not talking Southlake or Highland Park, just normal decent areas with good schools and low crime. Unless you think "Keeping up with the Joneses" =/ wanting to move to an area with people like me, as many of the areas I mentioned are now majority Indian. Those areas are even more expensive and unattainable with this income.

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McKinney, prosper, Plano etc are typically not middle class. I'm talking Garland, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Fort Worth etc.

Middle class is not what may of y'all imagine. It's not the nice suburb and a newer Honda. It's Garland with a 2015 Chevy. But they can still afford to finance a home a car and go on vacation. I know because I literally see it. And they're very happy.

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I bet they'd be even happier if they could have the same "American Dream" life the Boomers had.

Being happy with being able to have all the one can have is easy. That had they been born in a previous generation though, they'd probably be happier with all the more they were able to have.

How often does the current typical American family or even single adult go out to eat and where? Many have just switched what they spend money on. I see people with their two kids eating out and having drinks knowing that's a $120 minimum. Throw in grabbing fast food once a week and you are spending $500 a month on eating out.

backintexas2013 said:

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How often does the current typical American family or even single adult go out to eat and where? Many have just switched what they spend money on. I see people with their two kids eating out and having drinks knowing that's a $120 minimum. Throw in grabbing fast food once a week and you are spending $500 a month on eating out.

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And now many live the same way the Boomers did, making the same amount of salary, have the exact same number of children, with a wife who stays home and doesn't work, and still can't afford what the previous generations could.

For them, it's a shame.

Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Honestly, it blows my mind how out of touch some older folks are with what it actually takes to live today. Saying "we need more $50-75k jobs" is kind of laughable-you'd barely cover rent, a used car, and bills at that. A new car easily runs $30-40k, buying a house in a decent neighborhood basically needs dual six-figure incomes, and even taking a simple vacation feels like a luxury. Life just isn't that cheap anymore, and a lot of people don't seem to realize it.

---

This is completely false. It's clear many of you think you need to live with the Joneses in order to not be poor. 75k a year is by no means poor and certainly above the middle class threshold.

---

In DFW, even if a household qualifies around $110-120k for a median-priced home, that's really just the bare minimum, it's not what actually gets you into a safe neighborhood with decent schools. Most listings in those areas, places like McKinney, Prosper, Little Elm, or parts of Allen are $400-500k+, which kinda pushes the income you actually need closer to $130-165k once you add in taxes, upkeep, competition and all that. That's before cars, insurance, groceries, even a vacation-so yeah, two $75k earners are often stretched pretty thin. Saying this is "keeping up with the Joneses" is kinda hyperbolic, I'm not talking Southlake or Highland Park, just normal decent areas with good schools and low crime. Unless you think "Keeping up with the Joneses" =/ wanting to move to an area with people like me, as many of the areas I mentioned are now majority Indian. Those areas are even more expensive and unattainable with this income.

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McKinney, prosper, Plano etc are typically not middle class. I'm talking Garland, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Fort Worth etc.

Middle class is not what may of y'all imagine. It's not the nice suburb and a newer Honda. It's Garland with a 2015 Chevy. But they can still afford to finance a home a car and go on vacation. I know because I literally see it. And they're very happy.

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Hahaha… Garland? Grand Prairie? Fort Worth?? ARLINGTON?? Schools are rough, crime isn't low, and honestly I wouldn't subject my kids to that. I don't expect luxury, but damn… those are some seriously low standards. Financially, sure, maybe you could be comfortable but everything else? Not even close. And I can't believe you're serious thinking those are "decent" areas… that honestly tells me all I need to know.

WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Depends on where. In DFW, if you want to live in a low crime area with decent schools and feel like you actually live in America, it's not.

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I agree that safety and schools matter a lot - we moved from inner FW to Parker Cty last year for the exact reasons you mention. I just think there's a difference between "can't get by" and "can't get by in the specific area/lifestyle we prefer." One is a lifestyle choice, the other is a survival standard. People have always weighed location against opportunity differently.

The west was settled based on that analysis.

WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Honestly, it blows my mind how out of touch some older folks are with what it actually takes to live today. Saying "we need more $50-75k jobs" is kind of laughable-you'd barely cover rent, a used car, and bills at that. A new car easily runs $30-40k, buying a house in a decent neighborhood basically needs dual six-figure incomes, and even taking a simple vacation feels like a luxury. Life just isn't that cheap anymore, and a lot of people don't seem to realize it.

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I paid the daughter of one of my cousins around $50k/year for the last 2.5 years so she could take care of her mother (stroke, poor health) and try to get some college knocked out before she turned 30.

Over that time she managed to pay down credit cards, live on her own, have a dog, decent and reliable car, and save enough to enroll full time at a university.

So horse**** on you cannot make it on $50k. Absolute horse*****

flown-the-coop said:

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infinity ag said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Learn not to code

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I guess we just listen to the Boomers and do HVAC and plumbing.

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You would work less and make more than in tech.

And it's not boomers. I am 48 and tell every person looking for opportunities to get into the skilled trades.

But some folks must have their raised floors, 3 monitors, coffee bar, casual Friday's, Monday staff meetings and a paycheck coming from the mothership to feel like they are part of society.

What's wrong with getting your hands dirty?

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Mike Rowe was on Fox last week, and talking about how AI is actually Increasing jobs….if you are not afraid to get dirty. He said he's hearing stories of Electricians working on these massive AI facilities that are being built, and making mid $200s, and getting poached to go to other facilities at that.

backintexas2013 said:

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Because people think they "deserve" a better job. They have a way too high sense of themselves.

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I have a bachelor's AND a masters degree and I've had so much trouble finding a decent job. It's rough out there.

Except boomers didn't pay $250 a month for iPhones and spend $150 or so on streaming. Look at what people want to drive now. Most boomers I know drove old cars until the wheels fell off. Some I know still do and they won't eat out. They just spend money on different priorities.

Kelsey Odair 09 said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Because people think they "deserve" a better job. They have a way too high sense of themselves.

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I have a bachelor's AND a masters degree and I've had so much trouble finding a decent job. It's rough out there.

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.

Not sure why thumbs down. What's you degrees in? What field are you looking? Bet there are jobs around you that are open but you wouldn't take

WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Honestly, it blows my mind how out of touch some older folks are with what it actually takes to live today. Saying "we need more $50-75k jobs" is kind of laughable-you'd barely cover rent, a used car, and bills at that. A new car easily runs $30-40k, buying a house in a decent neighborhood basically needs dual six-figure incomes, and even taking a simple vacation feels like a luxury. Life just isn't that cheap anymore, and a lot of people don't seem to realize it.

---

This is completely false. It's clear many of you think you need to live with the Joneses in order to not be poor. 75k a year is by no means poor and certainly above the middle class threshold.

---

In DFW, even if a household qualifies around $110-120k for a median-priced home, that's really just the bare minimum, it's not what actually gets you into a safe neighborhood with decent schools. Most listings in those areas, places like McKinney, Prosper, Little Elm, or parts of Allen are $400-500k+, which kinda pushes the income you actually need closer to $130-165k once you add in taxes, upkeep, competition and all that. That's before cars, insurance, groceries, even a vacation-so yeah, two $75k earners are often stretched pretty thin. Saying this is "keeping up with the Joneses" is kinda hyperbolic, I'm not talking Southlake or Highland Park, just normal decent areas with good schools and low crime. Unless you think "Keeping up with the Joneses" =/ wanting to move to an area with people like me, as many of the areas I mentioned are now majority Indian. Those areas are even more expensive and unattainable with this income.

---

McKinney, prosper, Plano etc are typically not middle class. I'm talking Garland, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Fort Worth etc.

Middle class is not what may of y'all imagine. It's not the nice suburb and a newer Honda. It's Garland with a 2015 Chevy. But they can still afford to finance a home a car and go on vacation. I know because I literally see it. And they're very happy.

---

Hahaha… Garland? Grand Prairie? Fort Worth?? ARLINGTON?? Schools are rough, crime isn't low, and honestly I wouldn't subject my kids to that. I don't expect luxury, but damn… those are some seriously low standards. Financially, sure, maybe you could be comfortable but everything else? Not even close. And I can't believe you're serious thinking those are "decent" areas… that honestly tells me all I need to know.

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There are plenty of areas on those cities that are livable and safe. You're kinda showing your ass here. There some areas in Fort Worth and Arlington that are among the most expensive places to live in DFW.

Who are you arguing with? Because it isn't me. I said we need more 50-75k jobs. Those jobs can afford a household that A. Gives you a home. B. Gives you a car and C. Gives you a yearly vacation.

Y'all are adding in high end suburbs, very little crime, 600k homes and 80k cars. Not me.

Middle class never got you those things but it does get you a very good life compared to 90% of the world.

Kelsey Odair 09 said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Because people think they "deserve" a better job. They have a way too high sense of themselves.

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I have a bachelor's AND a masters degree and I've had so much trouble finding a decent job. It's rough out there.

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When the interviewer asks you to describe yourself, you should start with that.

My former employer did a round of layoffs in November and I was expecting the worst for them but a few of my friends found positions quickly with one getting a sizable raise. Another who survived the layoffs left the industry for a big promotion.

That really altered my perception of the economy and has me worried about attrition on my current team.

In addition you can even find homes in the mid $350k in places like Aledo, and if you aren't safe in Aledo then you aren't safe anywhere.

backintexas2013 said:

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Kelsey Odair 09 said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Because people think they "deserve" a better job. They have a way too high sense of themselves.

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I have a bachelor's AND a masters degree and I've had so much trouble finding a decent job. It's rough out there.

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.

Not sure why thumbs down. What's you degrees in? What field are you looking? Bet there are jobs around you that are open but you wouldn't take

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English Lit and Women's Studies, but I'm not sure why that matters. If anyone knows of anything in the Austin area, I may be interested.

I laughed way too hard at your post. Blue star for you.

Aust Ag said:

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flown-the-coop said:

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infinity ag said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Learn not to code

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I guess we just listen to the Boomers and do HVAC and plumbing.

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You would work less and make more than in tech.

And it's not boomers. I am 48 and tell every person looking for opportunities to get into the skilled trades.

But some folks must have their raised floors, 3 monitors, coffee bar, casual Friday's, Monday staff meetings and a paycheck coming from the mothership to feel like they are part of society.

What's wrong with getting your hands dirty?

---

Mike Rowe was on Fox last week, and talking about how AI is actually Increasing jobs….if you are not afraid to get dirty. He said he's hearing stories of Electricians working on these massive AI facilities that are being built, and making mid $200s, and getting poached to go to other facilities at that.

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This is 100% correct and I know firsthand about them leaving. I have lost half a dozen in my region to datacenter jobs. These individuals left very cushy union jobs making $140-160K/yr to datacenter jobs in mid 200s. It is very lucrative if you have the right credentials.

Kelsey Odair 09 said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Kelsey Odair 09 said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Because people think they "deserve" a better job. They have a way too high sense of themselves.

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I have a bachelor's AND a masters degree and I've had so much trouble finding a decent job. It's rough out there.

---

.

Not sure why thumbs down. What's you degrees in? What field are you looking? Bet there are jobs around you that are open but you wouldn't take

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English Lit and Women's Studies, but I'm not sure why that matters. If anyone knows of anything in the Austin area, I may be interested.

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And that's how you troll F16. Nice job.

Kelsey Odair 09 said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Kelsey Odair 09 said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Because people think they "deserve" a better job. They have a way too high sense of themselves.

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I have a bachelor's AND a masters degree and I've had so much trouble finding a decent job. It's rough out there.

---

.

Not sure why thumbs down. What's you degrees in? What field are you looking? Bet there are jobs around you that are open but you wouldn't take

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English Lit and Women's Studies, but I'm not sure why that matters. If anyone knows of anything in the Austin area, I may be interested.

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Troll alarm going off like a dosimeter in Chernobyl

Wait you don't think your degree matters.

Have you tried CPS or Austin State Hospital. You can give back while working.

Kelsey Odair 09 said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Kelsey Odair 09 said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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Because people think they "deserve" a better job. They have a way too high sense of themselves.

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I have a bachelor's AND a masters degree and I've had so much trouble finding a decent job. It's rough out there.

---

.

Not sure why thumbs down. What's you degrees in? What field are you looking? Bet there are jobs around you that are open but you wouldn't take

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English Lit and Women's Studies, but I'm not sure why that matters. If anyone knows of anything in the Austin area, I may be interested.

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https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=30d1cdba07027881&utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic

backintexas2013 said:

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Wait you don't think your degree matters.

Have you tried CPS or Austin State Hospital. You can give back while working.

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No, but I'll check that out, thanks. I currently work at a hardware store.

Ag87H2O said:

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infinity ag said:

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How is it that almost every jobs report is great, but people on Linkedin are still looking for jobs and many are about to become homeless?
The only way it is possible is if the Government is fudging numbers...

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Or ... maybe the negative voices on Linkedin are just the loudest and don't represent a majority of the job seekers. People exaggerate. People are drama queens. People lie.

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Exactly…in my area, I don't hear anybody who is struggling.

backintexas2013 said:

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Except boomers didn't pay $250 a month for iPhones and spend $150 or so on streaming. Look at what people want to drive now. Most boomers I know drove old cars until the wheels fell off. Some I know still do and they won't eat out. They just spend money on different priorities.

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But did they make enough to buy a new house and new car and have the wife not work and have kids and not have to make upper middle class money (at that time) if they wanted to?

Teslag said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Yesterday said:

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WinTheWholeDamnThing said:

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Honestly, it blows my mind how out of touch some older folks are with what it actually takes to live today. Saying "we need more $50-75k jobs" is kind of laughable-you'd barely cover rent, a used car, and bills at that. A new car easily runs $30-40k, buying a house in a decent neighborhood basically needs dual six-figure incomes, and even taking a simple vacation feels like a luxury. Life just isn't that cheap anymore, and a lot of people don't seem to realize it.

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This is completely false. It's clear many of you think you need to live with the Joneses in order to not be poor. 75k a year is by no means poor and certainly above the middle class threshold.

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In DFW, even if a household qualifies around $110-120k for a median-priced home, that's really just the bare minimum, it's not what actually gets you into a safe neighborhood with decent schools. Most listings in those areas, places like McKinney, Prosper, Little Elm, or parts of Allen are $400-500k+, which kinda pushes the income you actually need closer to $130-165k once you add in taxes, upkeep, competition and all that. That's before cars, insurance, groceries, even a vacation-so yeah, two $75k earners are often stretched pretty thin. Saying this is "keeping up with the Joneses" is kinda hyperbolic, I'm not talking Southlake or Highland Park, just normal decent areas with good schools and low crime. Unless you think "Keeping up with the Joneses" =/ wanting to move to an area with people like me, as many of the areas I mentioned are now majority Indian. Those areas are even more expensive and unattainable with this income.

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McKinney, prosper, Plano etc are typically not middle class. I'm talking Garland, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Fort Worth etc.

Middle class is not what may of y'all imagine. It's not the nice suburb and a newer Honda. It's Garland with a 2015 Chevy. But they can still afford to finance a home a car and go on vacation. I know because I literally see it. And they're very happy.

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Hahaha… Garland? Grand Prairie? Fort Worth?? ARLINGTON?? Schools are rough, crime isn't low, and honestly I wouldn't subject my kids to that. I don't expect luxury, but damn… those are some seriously low standards. Financially, sure, maybe you could be comfortable but everything else? Not even close. And I can't believe you're serious thinking those are "decent" areas… that honestly tells me all I need to know.

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There are plenty of areas on those cities that are livable and safe. You're kinda showing your ass here. There some areas in Fort Worth and Arlington that are among the most expensive places to live in DFW.

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Most of these cities are packed with low-rent Section 8 apartments that drag down school districts, and crime isn't exactly low. A decent pocket here and there doesn't change that reality.