The Student Room Group

Why do people have 'low paid' jobs?

You those jobs that people say are not proper jobs? Such as cleaning etc? Do you think that most people enjoy it or do the job because they have to? If its the latter then I don't undertand why they don't get higher paid less manual work. I know that we need cleaners and they are actually very important jobs despite what people say but im just wondering. For example my cousin is 23 and has no qualifications just dossed around but has just got a job as a bank nurse assistant and is on £6. 80 an hour! It makes me wonder why people stick with cleaning jobs if they can get a job like my cousin which doesn't require qualifications, to my knowledge.

Its just something Ive thought to myself but have not mentioned it to anyone in case people think im a snob or are putting cleaners down.

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Reply 1

When I used to work at Tesco the cleaners got paid mroe than what we did - probably because of the image associated with being a cleaner.

They probaby do so because they have no qualifications or maybe they wrongly believe they cannot work themselve sup a ladder.

Reply 2

Some people would rather do something manual than have an office job. And yeah, economically some people are always going to have to do the worst paid jobs. A lot of cleaners are older women who would find it difficult retraining to do a better paid office job, and cleaning is usually flexi-time and is something they know how to do. Your cousin is a young man who will be more easily trained to do something like being a bank nurse assistant.

Reply 3

I get what you're saying, haha.
And if people 'don't like' their cleaning jobs, why don't they get one of those jobs that has like, 'rungs on the career ladder' type thing?

Again, I'm not saying that cleaners are worthless, I'm just agreeing with above.

Reply 4

I've just gotten a part-time job as a cleaner for my university, starting on Sunday at 6:30am.

For me, the job has a number of benefits: I'm getting £6 an hour; so even one shift a week will easily cover my living costs. Also, since the hours are 6:30am-11:30am; the job's a pretty practical one since the day's basically still mine.

Admittedly, for me, it's a part-time thing for work; but I guess for those who're less/not qualified, it's still a good way to make a fair bit of money.
:smile:

Reply 5

I've sometimes wondered the same thing. My brother did badly at A levels and doesn't have any other qualifications, yet he mananged to get himself a job in a bank (they gave him some training for free) and within a year had a pretty nice income considering his situation.

I think that at least some of the reason is that some people just have really low expectations for themselves, and so don't aim very high.

Reply 6

Bank nursing assistants do need qualifications don't they? Something like 3 GCSE'S?

Reply 7

For example my cousin is 23 and has no qualifications just dossed around but has just got a job as a bank nurse assistant and is on £6. 80 an hour! It makes me wonder why people stick with cleaning jobs if they can get a job like my cousin which doesn't require qualifications, to my knowledge.


That's a strange example, considering that 6.80/hour IS a low paid job and you're wondering why people have low paid jobs instead of getting a different low paid job, like your cousin's. :s-smilie:

Reply 8

no hero in her sky
That's a strange example, considering that 6.80/hour IS a low paid job and you're wondering why people have low paid jobs instead of getting a different low paid job, like your cousin's. :s-smilie:


£6.80 is just for social hours. He gets £9.20 for working saturdays and nights and £12 odd for Sundays and bank holidays.

Reply 9

no hero in her sky
That's a strange example, considering that 6.80/hour IS a low paid job and you're wondering why people have low paid jobs instead of getting a different low paid job, like your cousin's. :s-smilie:

;yes; I got more than that as a lifeguard for my school, though admittedly not much

Reply 10

Some people like cleaning

Reply 11

Yes, because it's that easy to find a better job, in 100% of these cases.


^o)

Reply 12

I agree with no hero in her sky, because I earn more than your cousin, and that's just basic admin work!

saturn
£6.80 is just for social hours. He gets £9.20 for working saturdays and nights and £12 odd for Sundays and bank holidays.


That's just overtime. Even low-paid jobs can get you time-and-a-half/double time/whatever when overtime is taken.

Reply 13

What do you get if you don't mind me asking?

I mean qualified nurses get only around £2 more an hour than my cousin.

Reply 14

When I'm 18, I'll earn £6.80 an hour stacking shelves in a supermarket. Your cousin doesn't exactly;y have a high paying job himself, no matter how good the overtime is.

Reply 15

All I'll say is that I would be roughly on par with those nurses :p:

Really, if you think that £6.80 is not a low-paid job, then you're missing out on quite a lot...

Reply 16

loopymeg
All I'll say is that I would be roughly on par with those nurses :p:

Really, if you think that £6.80 is not a low-paid job, then you're missing out on quite a lot...


You don't live in London do you?

I think its quite well paid for someone unqualified and who just sits talking to patients every now and again as thats all he says he does.

Reply 17

Yeah? My job is unqualified, and I don't even have to talk to patients :rolleyes:

While I'm at it, I might as well point out that some cleaners can earn around £10 an hour or so. It just depends upon the employer.

Reply 18

Because if they jacked that job in and couldn't find another for a month they wouldn't be able to pay rent and would be kicked out. It's not like there are an endless supply of jobs, why do you think some students with good degrees can't get jobs, its not like they are under qualified.

Reply 19

loopymeg
Yeah? My job is unqualified, and I don't even have to talk to patients :rolleyes:

While I'm at it, I might as well point out that some cleaners can earn around £10 an hour or so. It just depends upon the employer.


If your in the south thats why, higher pay and increased cost of living.