To think it is not that easy to 'get a better job'

[EuclidianGeometryFan]

Seen a few threads lately about people with money issues, and on low wages or minimum wage.
Then some posters say things like 'why haven't you got a promotion in the last X years?' 'Why don't you re-train / upskill?' 'Why don't you get a better job?'

As if anyone stays in a minimum wage job for years just for the fun of it!

The job market is a pyramid - there is not enough room on the higher levels for everyone. Even as you age you can't automatically expect to climb the ladder and move up - the maths don't stack up. Not every field of work has a 'career ladder'.
Some people are stuck on minimum wage or not much more, for life. They may not have the ability or skills or aptitude to re-train or get promoted, let alone the time and energy.

It smacks of blaming the OP for not being ambitious enough. Some posters seem to have no conception of what life and the job market is like for minimum wage workers.

I don’t understand how UC works but working age people who can work should work, even if it’s for an incremental £2/hour. It’s like the argument upthread that you shouldn’t take upskilling opportunities offered by your employer because it may only be an extra 50p an hour. If you’re struggling financially, you should take every opportunity to improve your financial situation and not think “it’s not worth doing that course my employer is offering, it’s not much more money” or “it’s not worth taking that job as I’ll lose out on benefits and only net £2/hour”. An extra £50 or £100 a month can be the difference between living paycheck to paycheck joylessly just covering bills, and being able to have a bit of disposable income for something nice, whether it’s Netflix or a day out.

Also, don’t compare yourself to others - the reason someone is on UC full time is presumably because they CAN’T work. Just be grateful you’re healthy enough to work and your circumstances allow you to. A shift in mindset is needed, I think.

These are people who are working, who are earning minimum wage but not receiving that at the end of it.

I didn't say people shouldn't work. They should. But even if you're on minimum wage, you should be able to work and receive your wages.

Why should unemployed people get extra help?

You have misunderstood.

Have a look at what the rates of UC actually are. They are nowhere near minimum wage. Someone who is unemployed gets about £100 per week.

It depends on the reason they’re unemployed, surely?

Perhaps I’ve misunderstood but I thought you were saying that they effectively earn £2/hour because they lose benefits as they increase their hours, not that their actual wage is £2/hour. In any case, I think if you can work to avoid being on benefits, you have a moral duty to. At least so that the benefits pool can be distributed among people who actually need it.

Those on high wages get paid it because they generate that value for their employers. They worked for it.

That woman has bills paid and £175 a month left over. She works 30 hours a week so she can obviously do more. She can't do more hours at her current job but she can find extra stuff to do. Or look for something else.

Improve by spending some time learning marketable skills that employers value. After work spend some time doing courses etc.

Back when I first met DH he took a loan from a bank to learn how to code. It's so much easier these days.

I agree it is often difficult to get a better job. Most people reach a ceiling and are unlikely to get further in their career. Some people are born with dynamism and energy that allow them to work harder (longer hours) that enable them to do better. Others are born with greater intelligence which enables them to outwit their colleagues and do better. For most people you plateau and that is it.

Took a bank loan to do a course. He is privileged to do that.

That is rubbish
I am a service user at a mental health charity. The people who look after us and run the groups are on minimum wage. Not because they are easily replaceable but because charities run on a shoe string. They are still very qualified and experienced in their roles.

DH didn't have much growing up in the first place. Not everything is privilege, privilege, privilege. Some of it is damn hard work.

Good for him? Not everyone can work like he did.

Then they need to accept the consequences (assuming they are physically healthy)

Physically? Not mentally then?

Only most extreme cases of mental conditions, e.g. non-verbal autism and the likes, can truly prevent a person from working, at least part time.

What exactly can stop person from cleaning? picking fruits? mental health is not affected by sweeping floors but by having days with no end with no structure or purpose.

Read this post

Lightuptheroom · 31/07/2025 22:35 here Page 2 | Graduate daughter still looking for work. | Mumsnet

Very indicative of two different approaches

Indeed. The Conservative politician answer was always "Why don't they just go and get a better job?"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-63118022

The thing is, that's what many people go and do. Then we still need people doing the low paid jobs. We often hear that business owners can't find locals to do care work or be fruit pickers or warehouse operatives. What's the answer?

The disabled, those with conditions like autism the and mentally ill apparently.

Though judging by the way some people behave when the cashier doesn't make eye contact or someone is a bit slow serving their coffee, I'm not sure that's going to work really. You can force employers to employ people but you can't force the general public to accept it.

I'm dyspraxic, always worked, never been unemployed but the amount of abuse I've had over the years, which amounts to "You're not good enough to serve me" is ridiculous. Believe me if I could do anything to avoid that and be "good enough" I would, it's not exactly fun, but I've been accused of everything from doing it on purpose to piss people off to just being plain old stupid.
Luckily I've found an employer who has my back, many don't because you know "The customer is always right".

On this subject I'm always reminded of a thread a little while ago when the poster was complaining that a volunteer in Asda was annoying her, many pointed out that Asda do a scheme where people with disabilities can get some experience. Absolutely no tolerance whatsoever. Yet disabled and mentally ill people must work. There's only so many places you can shove people like me where the general public doesn't have to be bothered with the symptoms of our disability/illness/conditions but we're still earning. Telling people not to be disabled, mentally ill or have conditions doesn't make them magically disappear.

@Audiwannabe

I'm really sorry about your experience. There is definitely a role for people to play and step in when someone behaves in a nasty way like this, not to watch in silence.

Thank you, the thing is I don't expect other people to step in, I can handle it, but, I shouldn't have to, it's been this way all my life really, I'm not causing massive delays, hurting people, making people ill, I just do things a bit differently, sometimes trip over my words or stutter and some of the searing disdain people have for me, personally, is appalling. But apparently acceptable.

I'm on anti depressants because it's hard enough navigating life in general and work without being derided for it regularly too. That's what's affected my mental health, being treated like a second class citizen, and I've had my moments where I've wondered what the point is, I have as much value as anyone else, but because the delivery might be different, because it takes me a moment more to process and do something I'm told I shouldn't be inflicting that on other people. The same people who insist I must work, tell me I'm not good enough to do a low waged, low level job but I should go and get a better one.

So many people genuinely can't see that their attitude, expectations and the way they behave are part of the problem.

It’s not necessarily through want of trying. My ASD DC has had hundreds of interviews and never been offered a job. Because being blunt, they come across as weird. Yes they could still sweep floors, but nobody will let them.