In the computer industry. There seems to be the opposite problem. You get everyone graduating (I include my past self) thinking they will be making at least $70,000 at their first job, because their school or certificate program promised this to them. This is WRONG!!!!! That however, does not dispute the fact that the everyone needs IT at their company. You just won't be making $70,000 right out the gate. You will likely be working for hourly minimum wage even on Help Desk Support (even though that may sound more important than sales associate) that or you suffer through long periods of unemployment when you go from contract gig to contract gig.
That being said, I say in my field the more specialized you are the more likely you will be making more than the minimum wage script readers that you call to help fix your internet. People always wonder how to get those big gigs at the software companies like Microsoft Facebook or Google or Apple. And most likely if they didnt know someone already at the company. They would have had a huge software hit on their hands prior to joining those companies. Software or skills that those companies wanted to acquire. If you don't have any tough, they won't listen to you and you will have to spend years mastering something you enjoy doing. Hopefully you will be introduced to this in one of your first jobs. Many will not...You need to bring something to the table yourself and show off your skill in order for the bigger guys to even pay attention to you. It helps to have contacts in the company if you don't and even if you do!
It's extremely hard to break out and continue to rise above your current tax bracket, but I am doing it little by little. You have to do this and want it yourself. You have to be a master at time management and think logically about steps to help secure your financial future. Most people my age (millennials that is) seem to put relationships above all else especially when there is accidental pregnancy. The government isn't going to help you. Your significant other (if you are both not married) isn't going to help you. Your party lifestyle isn't going to help you but your friends might be able to help you in the door. However, it's up to you to impress people. It's even harder to do this if you have anything lacking on your resume or a questionable record/image.
I don't feel any sympathy for a crowd of angry job seekers who demand that they get higher paying jobs after they failed to meet all of these prerequisites. Yeah, it's not politically correct, and it may be too tough for some people to stomach, but that's how I see it. I am thankful that I was well prepared for the real world with a great family, good traditions and values, great educations but all of that didn't really help me find a job until I just got one somehow! So they can complain about my white privilege all they want but not two years ago, I was in the same boat as they were. I thought I had a great degree because it was Computer Information Systems and not some crap degree like philosophy or creative writing. It still took months to find an above minimum wage job.