Re higher minimum wage. (using real numbers here, for the Netherlands)
For a support job, I want to employ a uneducated person. Just answering calls and clicking some buttons. (Could also be a student, no need for any experience etc) Costs me maybe 10 euros per hour. Why a student? Is relatively cheap and it gets the job done nicely.
Now, if the minimum wage would go to 14 or more, what would happen? Would I still employ this student for the same task? Maybe (probably?) not. Maybe I will instead get a 20 euro worker with an education that can not only do support but also some development and can bring knowledge into the company.
Saying that increasing minimum wage solves problems directly is, I think, wrong, because everything might shift.
My experience is otherwise. I remember entering the job market thinking that like my parents had experienced you'd get some low/no-skill entry level job somewhere and work your way 'from the mail room' up a position of actual skill. That it was possible to 'get your foot in the door' and then get a better job based on being a known good worker and then showing you also had the skills to do more.
That doesn't work because companies outsource entire stacks of tasks. There isn't an "entry level" job anymore. There's no path inside when everyone wants experienced workers.
So what would happen is probably a 'Google customer service' level of customer service. Simply much less with the same people they already want.
Or they change the "entry level" jobs to "intern" or "recent grad" jobs. Still no experience needed, but if you don't fit the right demographic you're out of luck.
For a support job, I want to employ a uneducated person. Just answering calls and clicking some buttons. (Could also be a student, no need for any experience etc) Costs me maybe 10 euros per hour. Why a student? Is relatively cheap and it gets the job done nicely. Now, if the minimum wage would go to 14 or more, what would happen? Would I still employ this student for the same task? Maybe (probably?) not. Maybe I will instead get a 20 euro worker with an education that can not only do support but also some development and can bring knowledge into the company.
Saying that increasing minimum wage solves problems directly is, I think, wrong, because everything might shift.