Unfortunately, Washington has it wrong on WalMart and wage controls, but unbeknownst to itself, it is right for the wrong reason on low wages.
Why are wages low?
Because millions upon millions of illegal immigrants drive wages down by working for peanuts underground jobs within the economy. This downward wage pressure affects all essentially unskilled labor rates because it provides a huge surplus of available labor. Econ 101 teaches that if you have too much supply, then prices will drop.
WalMart, Wash DC wages WOULD be higher if WalMart were competing for the quality workers in a far smaller work force.
Illegal immigrants take jobs and drive down wages. And those so-called “jobs Americans won’t take”. Sure they would if the wage were based on a market not flooded by imported serf labor.