Comment by snozolli

Obviously there is some ludicrous threshold of pay where more people will decide to do some job

Ludicrous only from the perspective of the employer. Everyone wants something for nothing.

The fact is that regular Americans (i.e. not exploited, immigrant labor, or oppressed out-groups) used to do manual labor and manufacturing in the United States. They took pride in their labor. People haven't changed, the economics have.

As for your last paragraph, the oil fields have been able to meet their need for employees for the most part, and that ticks every one of your undesirable factors. So what gets workers there? Pay.