That Kentucky stat is interesting. Would this be an entry level position? What kind of equipment are they operating? I'm not sure it would be a good idea to pay someone $25 an hour to operate a $2m machine.

I know a few miners in Canada. They make a pretty good wage.

Our local beef packing plant was having trouble keeping workers in post-COVID times. They had to raise the wage. The base rate went from $17 to $21 per hour. Still on the exploitative side. But it keeps workers out of destitution.