On my most recent post, one commenter took us a bit off the direct path with a comment about the need for 21st Century education. While I agree that education is important, and indeed, investment in human capital is the best thing we can do to help the poor, the minimum wage is an additional impediment to low-skilled labor who have been failed by the education system. But my short response led the commentor to say:

Sounds like you think there is no hope that we will lead the world with a 21 century educate public, just train hamburger flippers to be order takers

Now the hamburger flipper comment is one that particularly galls me, when done by politicians deriding meaningful work. So I want to quote from the 3rd Edition of my No Free Lunch: Economics for a Fallen World textbook (yes a shameless plug–free to you for download here, and you can find this discussion in Chapter 6, pp. 130-133)

Minimum wage jobs are often derided as having no real potential by some popular press writers and politicians, as can be revealed with an internet search on “hamburger- flipping” jobs. And while preferring higher-paying manufacturing jobs to any minimum wage job is understandable, one should not denigrate the benefits of any kind of work to the unskilled. For inner- city teenagers (who have historically high unemployment rates), minimum wage legislation may deny them the opportunity to gain skills that ultimately will lead to higher wages. Just some of the skills that one can obtain and demonstrate to subsequent employers from a “hamburger- flipping” job are:

• ability to work with others in a close environment
• punctuality and ability to be a dependable worker
• ability to learn multiple responsibilities (move from one job to another; e.g., cook to cashier, etc.)
• ability to work with demanding customers
• willing to conform personal desires to meet job needs (e.g., wear a hair net)

To some, these represent meaningless attributes. But to other future employers, these attributes present a record of successful employment, suggesting that if they invest in you to learn a more marketable skill, you have the character to be a valuable employee.

More importantly, God values work as we serve one another to meet needs. If the object of that work is not hostile to God’s purposes, but is meeting human needs, it is valuable in God’s sight. And as we grow in whatever work we are capable of doing, God can work in us to make us who He has called us to be. So let’s none of us fall into the trap of suggesting that some jobs are not worthy of dignity and have no hope of leading to a future. Remember Joseph.

PS: I had to take this picture when going into Horrible Fright two days ago to get a cheap tool I wanted. Even in this economy, there are jobs available well above minimum wage. Areas where this is not true will find that the minimum wage is binding, and therefore will cause unintended negative consequences.