To make matters far worse, the government subsidizes low-wage employers with the income based social programs in place, and tampers with supply to keep wages in check.

We have nothing close to a free market for labor. Unfortunately, it's called a free market, and so people think the market is ineffective.

Construction was a high paying job until unrestricted labor drove down wages. (Unenforced labor laws meant contractors hiring illegal workers could undercut bids. No payroll taxes, no workman's comp insurance, no chance of legal companies competing.)

Fair wages depend on fair markets, and the labor market at the lower income end of the spectrum is anything but fair.