[Tax-chick]

... the lack of good-paying, low-skill manufacturing jobs,

I wonder why the author thinks there should be such a thing. Low-skill jobs - unless they have very demanding physical requirements, such as great strength - will naturally tend to offer low pay as well. High-paying manufacturing jobs were the result of a union-government cabal's favoring some low-skilled workers at the expense of the larger economy, both consumers and excluded workers.

Now that system has fallen, as it was always destined to. Most low-skill/low-pay jobs have been eliminated by regulation. The drive to earn a living has been crushed by handouts.

[yldstrk]

“The drive to earn a living has been crushed by handouts.”

Wrong. I work with this population and the ones with jobs are hateful about those without. Those without are hampered by addictions and the sickness around them.

[icwhatudo]

The thing that really sucks for black Americans without skills is that those low skill jobs are being done by hispanics who show up on time, and work very hard.

A business I am very familiar with that employs 100+ low skilled workers ($8 hour manual labor) is nearly 80% hispanic workers even though it is located near one of the largest black cities in America.

Not a fan of illegals or guest workers...but I am a fan of their work ethic.

[SoothingDave]

Low-skill jobs - unless they have very demanding physical requirements, such as great strength - will naturally tend to offer low pay as well. High-paying manufacturing jobs were the result of a union-government cabal's favoring some low-skilled workers at the expense of the larger economy, both consumers and excluded workers.

Low-skill manufacturing jobs can lead to the acquisition of more skills and better paying jobs.

When you don't have the entry-level jobs because you have no manufacturing, then you have no chance for advancement either.

I agree we should not expect "high paying, low skilled" jobs, but entry-level manufacturing jobs should pay better than not working.