What's the biggest challenge facing minimum wage workers in America today? Low wage per hour or low hours per week?

I know a nice young man joining the work force.

He found a job at the local “Breakfast All Day” regional sit-down restaurant. We’ll say he makes $9 an hour. He’s home schooled, so his hours are flexible and he’d be thrilled spit-less with a $360 pre-tax paycheck.

The problem is, they want him to drive into town (they live rural) and work two hour shifts. As in, 2 hours for the day.

So, if we raise the minimum wage to $15 and hour, he’ll make $30 instead of $18. Better, granted, but not a lot more than gas money.

With all the talk of paying a living wage, where is the assurance of a 40 hour workweek? Would we be better off granting tax incentives to employers that maintain a majority full time employees over requiring an increase in the minimum?

It seems to me the current low wage crisis in the US isn’t the minimum wage so much as finding full time employment. Cities and regions are raising the minimum voluntarily, but it the employers are only offering jobs working 2 hours a day, what difference does it make?

Higher wages currently only encourage employers to work more employees shorter hours, or eliminate low wage jobs with automation.

If you made it this far, thanks!