That suggests that the true market clearing entry level pay for the type of job is below that of a living wage and benefits that would not require employees to sign up for welfare benefits. One can make an analogy to unpaid internships in some kinds of jobs.
Lots of people on these forums have decried the increasingly competitive pre-professional emphasis in college these days. But when the current generation faces much more expensive educational costs to enter entry-level jobs, but some of those entry level jobs are paid very poorly, it is not surprising that those without substantial parental support into young adulthood do not have the luxury of not having to consider pre-professional factors in choosing college, major, and career directions.