Why are the youth leaving?

Why are so many young people fleeing this beautiful country? Once you finish school, you've got a decent career path ahead of you, and if you land a job with a starting salary of around $3,000 or $4,000, isn't that plenty for a young person just getting started? If there aren't enough opportunities in the Midwest, then pack up and head to California, the Coast, or even down to Florida—anyone with a real work ethic can always find a job somewhere.
Take a young family, for instance, where both the husband and wife are working and each brings home about $1.75. That adds up to $3.25 a month, which, in my opinion, is more than enough to get by. And if you’re lucky enough to live in a house provided by your parents, you're basically set for life; you won't be dreaming of moving to some gloomy place like Germany.😵 Even here, dishwashers can pull in about $1333 a month, and you don't need an advanced degree for that kind of work. I have a friend who is only 25, married with kids, and he drives a semi-truck making nearly $3.25. What I'm trying to say is that you can absolutely live a solid, comfortable life right here in America; you just have to be resourceful and make things happen.

Are you trolling me or are you actually being serious right now?

I just want to say that you can actually make a decent living here in the States, if you're willing to put in the work and figure things out...

You hit the nail on the head there, friend; if you can find your footing, you'll be fine, and honestly, that struggle to adapt is even more intense here than it ever was back in the South.

I honestly don't see why anyone would bother moving to California or Washington, D.C., when Germany is just a short trip away and offers a standard of living that’s maybe three times higher. Unemployment stays under 4% there, worker protections are actually meaningful, and you don't have to deal with all that constant noise or people breathing down your neck at work. You aren't constantly worrying about paychecks being late, and there's just a much wider variety of career paths to choose from. The social safety net is solid too; if you do happen to lose your job, the government provides enough to keep you afloat while you figure out your next move. Plus, the pensions are great enough that you can actually afford to travel the world, and the schools are well-maintained—you know, places where the ceilings don't fall in. Even the healthcare seems reliable, with actual supplies available when you need them. There’s less petty crime because the police actually show up, and less major crime because the courts seem to function. You don't have to deal with nepotism or uneducated politicians, and you won't see some buddy of a politician getting a $30 million contract while seniors are out there scavenging for bottles to get by.

cosmicsailor63 said:Are you trolling me or are you actually being serious right now?

He’s dead serious. I mean, it’s pretty obvious—people leave the Midwest out of pure spite to head over to Germany or Ireland.

Life in America is just way too easy for them, and since they're apparently desperate for some kind of adventure or struggle, they had to go find it somewhere else.😁

Samuel Kim50 said:Why are so many young people fleeing this beautiful country? Once you finish school, you've got a decent career path ahead of you, and if you land a job with a starting salary of around $3,000 or $4,000, isn't that plenty for a young person just getting started? If there aren't enough opportunities in the Midwest, then pack up and head to California, the Coast, or even down to Florida—anyone with a real work ethic can always find a job somewhere.
Take a young family, for instance, where both the husband and wife are working and each brings home about $1.75. That adds up to $3.25 a month, which, in my opinion, is more than enough to get by. And if you’re lucky enough to live in a house provided by your parents, you're basically set for life; you won't be dreaming of moving to some gloomy place like Germany.😵 Even here, dishwashers can pull in about $1333 a month, and you don't need an advanced degree for that kind of work. I have a friend who is only 25, married with kids, and he drives a semi-truck making nearly $3.25. What I'm trying to say is that you can absolutely live a solid, comfortable life right here in America; you just have to be resourceful and make things happen.

I totally get where this guy is coming from, and honestly, I’m right there with him... it’s such a massive win in a lot of these situations, you know? Because let’s be real, most people just don't have the guts to pull the trigger on something that big... like, it's actually terrifying to think about packing up your entire life just to go rent some random sublet in a completely different state or even halfway across the country... it's a huge gamble and most folks just can't bring themselves to take that kind of leap...

Man, when you think about what wages should actually look like for young people or anyone working their way up the ladder, it’s honestly such a massive, complicated mess... I mean, it really could go a dozen different ways depending on who you ask, right? Like, if we’re talking about setting a baseline that actually lets someone live a decent life without constantly checking their bank account before buying a coffee... it’s gotta be more than just the bare minimum... because let's be real, everything from rent to groceries is getting so insanely expensive lately... so if we want the next generation to actually have a shot at building something for themselves, those paychecks need to reflect that reality... it’s not just about a number on a screen, it’s about being able to breathe... anyway, where was I going with this... oh yeah, the whole idea of fair compensation for the workforce... it's a huge conversation... $2000Of course, but I gotta know... how many hours of work are we actually talking about here? 🙂

But honestly, if you want my two cents—and this is really the real answer because I’m part of that younger crowd myself and I can already see myself heading out of here pretty soon...

The answer is actually pretty simple if you think about it... It's all just pure uncertainty!

There’s just this constant, nagging uncertainty hanging over everything, you know? Like, people love to tell you that once you hit 35 or 40, the private sector is basically a joke because they decide you’re suddenly "too old" for the grind... it's such a load of crap, honestly. But then you look at the public sector—and I’m talking about those big-name giants like Exelon, Zillow, Amtrak, or even the US Navy—and it feels like those spots are strictly reserved for people who already have some serious muscle or connections behind them... it's like there's no middle ground at all...

Man, you really have to think about the math when you’re staring down a massive loan with those sky-high interest rates... especially when you hit that mid-life stretch around 45, where you aren't exactly some high-flying specialist like a surgeon or a top-tier engineer with a flawless resume sitting on a golden parachute... and just when the kids are finally starting school and everything is getting expensive, life decides to throw a curveball and you lose your job... it’s just heavy, you know? It's that feeling of being totally stuck between a rock and a hard place while the bills just keep piling up...

I think I heard some statistic floating around somewhere—and hey, please feel free to set me straight if my memory is totally shot on this—but apparently, when you’re looking for work over the age of 50, the odds of actually landing a job are like... maybe 10%? And even then, you're probably just looking at something like a security guard gig or something similar... it's honestly pretty brutal out there...

You know, looking at things out there in that gloomy part of Germany... there are actually quite a few guest workers who finally made it to the finish line and reached their full retirement...

It’s just not the same thing when you think about it, you know? Like, when a married couple actually gets the chance to build a life together over sixty years... or even just forty years like we see here with certain averages... I mean, if you look at the median, it's like... well... $1333).

That’s just how I see it, honestly... though you can't ignore that mountain of debt we're sitting on, plus the fact that we'll eventually have to stop borrowing altogether once we hit the ceiling, which basically means we'll just end up handing everything over to those people who are only interested in squeezing every last cent out of the system anyway... and it just keeps going like that...

So, you say your buddy drives a semi? Listen to this...

A teacher walks into a classroom and starts asking the kids what their parents do for a living and whether they have a decent lifestyle and all that stuff. First little girl stands up and goes:

"My mom is a... my mom is a prostitute. But I don't really care because she brings home tons of cash and we live pretty well. So yeah."

The teacher is a bit taken aback, but whatever, life happens. She just moves on. Next kid stands up:

"My dad is a... my dad is a cop. He's just a regular cop, he goes out on patrol and stuff. He writes those parking tickets and things. A little bit for the government... a little bit for us... but I don't mind at all because my dad brings home plenty of money and we have a good standard of living. That's it."

The teacher is starting to realize exactly what kind of situation she’s found herself in, but hey, you see everything these days. She calls for the next one. A little boy stands up:

"My dad... my dad drives a truck... he's a trucker, and... and he's always driving, he's never home, he works a lot and stuff, he's constantly on the road, and..."
-And what? The teacher says, "Go on, keep going," right?
-And...
-Come on, just say it, don't be shy.
-And...
-And if it wasn't for the mother of that cow and the father of that horse over there, we'd be loaded!

There you go. That's what happens when you're surrounded by hookers and cops.

Samuel Kim50 said:Why are so many young people fleeing this beautiful country? Once you finish school, you've got a decent career path ahead of you, and if you land a job with a starting salary of around $3,000 or $4,000, isn't that plenty for a young person just getting started? If there aren't enough opportunities in the Midwest, then pack up and head to California, the Coast, or even down to Florida—anyone with a real work ethic can always find a job somewhere.
Take a young family, for instance, where both the husband and wife are working and each brings home about $1.75. That adds up to $3.25 a month, which, in my opinion, is more than enough to get by. And if you’re lucky enough to live in a house provided by your parents, you're basically set for life; you won't be dreaming of moving to some gloomy place like Germany.😵 Even here, dishwashers can pull in about $1333 a month, and you don't need an advanced degree for that kind of work. I have a friend who is only 25, married with kids, and he drives a semi-truck making nearly $3.25. What I'm trying to say is that you can absolutely live a solid, comfortable life right here in America; you just have to be resourceful and make things happen.

Well, newsflash: not everyone can just "figure it out."
I work at the airport now, but before that, I couldn't find anything. Period. I'm 33 years old and only landed this airport gig last year. So, do the math. 😁
And yeah, the paychecks are always on time. Reliable as a Swiss watch.

Charles Carter2 said:Well, newsflash: not everyone can just "figure it out."
I work at the airport now, but before that, I couldn't find anything. Period. I'm 33 years old and only landed this airport gig last year. So, do the math. 😁
And yeah, the paychecks are always on time. Reliable as a Swiss watch.

You didn't even mention if that airport is here in the States or out abroad.😉

The news is out there claiming we’re short 300 truckers in America. Apparently, 7 out of 10 rigs are just sitting idle in parking lots—all while they claim to be offering salaries between $10,000 and $4.00. Well, I checked the job boards myself, and there isn't a single damn listing. A buddy of mine has all his paperwork in order, plenty of experience, and he still can't find a trucking gig that pays even $2333—absolutely nothing. He'll end up heading to Germany where they're pulling in €2,500–€3,000. So, tell your friend to quit whining about how there aren't jobs for truckers, especially when talking about those fake $10k–$12k paydays. Most of the working class isn't even making $5k–$6k; they're scraping by on $3k–$3.5k. Stop lying to this gullible public. And even if they actually manage to land a job—if they even can—will they ever actually see the money? Or will the boss just screw them over and kick them to the curb without a cent? Honestly, some naive soul is going to believe this nonsense next—marry me, why don't you?

Are they actually afraid of the Illuminati within their own country??? 🤷

When looking at the Coast and California, there are actually quite a few reputable bus companies that have built up a solid reputation. Around here, you don't see nearly as many people working for $1167; most folks are either skilled tradespeople or in retail, with the average wage for a skilled worker sitting around $1.75. What you’re describing sounds like it might be more accurate for the Midwest or some of the less developed states.

Most of the young people I run into these days just don't have even a single $1667

Not even for Washington, D.C.—go ahead and find me one decent job posting for a truck driver instead.

Roger Davis14 said:Most of the young people I run into these days just don't have even a single $1667

Basically, this guy Samuel Kim50 is just full of it.😁

It’s all because of this plus a whole bunch of other headaches. ☕

Samuel Kim50 said:Why are so many young people fleeing this beautiful country? Once you finish school, you've got a decent career path ahead of you, and if you land a job with a starting salary of around $3,000 or $4,000, isn't that plenty for a young person just getting started? If there aren't enough opportunities in the Midwest, then pack up and head to California, the Coast, or even down to Florida—anyone with a real work ethic can always find a job somewhere.
Take a young family, for instance, where both the husband and wife are working and each brings home about $1.75. That adds up to $3.25 a month, which, in my opinion, is more than enough to get by. And if you’re lucky enough to live in a house provided by your parents, you're basically set for life; you won't be dreaming of moving to some gloomy place like Germany.😵 Even here, dishwashers can pull in about $1333 a month, and you don't need an advanced degree for that kind of work. I have a friend who is only 25, married with kids, and he drives a semi-truck making nearly $3.25. What I'm trying to say is that you can absolutely live a solid, comfortable life right here in America; you just have to be resourceful and make things happen.

They make 4,000-5,000 DOLLARS???? For heaven's sake, they're making Ronaldo money just starting their careers. America really is paradise on earth.

I don't know about all of you, but as someone who actually works in the hospitality industry, I can tell you firsthand that the entry-level kitchen staff—we're talking hourly wages, plus seniority and travel stipends—usually brings home somewhere around $1500. And then I have to listen to these old ladies complaining about low pay, when they clearly haven't considered what kind of salary they'd actually be pulling in if they were working as a head chef making $2000 per hour.🤔 What's a certainty in this business, though, is that you'll easily clock over 200 hours a week during the peak season, whereas in the winter, you're looking at an average of about 170.

Christian Miller14, if you're looking to land a gig with a top-tier private establishment, you won't find those openings posted on a job board. Most of the time, those positions are filled through word-of-mouth or personal connections; honestly, don't even bother looking for them in an ad. Besides, who actually hunts for work through classified ads these days?

Working 200 hours a month for $1500 versus 172 hours for $2,600.

A decent two-bedroom apartment with utilities will run you about $1000 in Washington, D.C., or maybe Chicago, Miami, or San Francisco. Meanwhile, a nice two-bedroom in Frankfurt or its surrounding cities is around $950.

Man, that was a brutal call to make..

Samuel Kim50 said:I don't know about all of you, but as someone who actually works in the hospitality industry, I can tell you firsthand that the entry-level kitchen staff—we're talking hourly wages, plus seniority and travel stipends—usually brings home somewhere around $1500. And then I have to listen to these old ladies complaining about low pay, when they clearly haven't considered what kind of salary they'd actually be pulling in if they were working as a head chef making $2000 per hour.🤔 What's a certainty in this business, though, is that you'll easily clock over 200 hours a week during the peak season, whereas in the winter, you're looking at an average of about 170.

Christian Miller14, if you're looking to land a gig with a top-tier private establishment, you won't find those openings posted on a job board. Most of the time, those positions are filled through word-of-mouth or personal connections; honestly, don't even bother looking for them in an ad. Besides, who actually hunts for work through classified ads these days?

they aren't leaving because they want to, they're leaving for better money...
because what's the point of staying in 124 miles when, well, if the pay elsewhere is double what you make now... 🤷
and even a chef making $6,000 in America should probably be thinking about moving on too...