It's worth noting that switching jobs for pay raises is mainly a white collar thing. If you work in trucking for instance, where productivity is capped, worker differentiation is minimal (meaning two different truckers perform essentially identical work unlike engineers or salespeople), and where industry margins are thin, you'll top out relatively quickly. After that, switching companies isn't going to do all that much good for them.
Does this turnover mean that the truckers get better paid? If not, then it's an even better example, because the turnover would highlight that they have topped out.
This is not true in the Phoenix or Tennessee areas, two places I know folks in the trucking business. Competition for drivers is fierce, and that leads to better offers from firms who have found a niche where they can charge more.
This mindset seems common but is far from the truth. Even with blue-collar jobs pay varies widely especially now. Employers want you to think everyone pays the same and you can't do better elsewhere.
