Taxes and insurance are so high now and welfare benefits so generous that an employer offering an on the books job is competing with the welfare system for bodies. There's really no financial incentive for someone to take a $15 an hour job when they can take in more in welfare while sitting at home. That's why the minimum wage is kind of a moot point, welfare pays twice the minimum wage already so the minimum wage is irrelevant. That's the main reason blacks in my area rarely work, they don't have the education or skill set to get hired on a $20 an hour job and they make almost that much off of welfare. Why take a $10 an hour job, have to get up every day for work, while taking a pay cut?
