By talking to you here and reading what you believe. You seem to think that someone starting should have to work up to a living wage, not start at one and work up to a comfortable living.
And that's probably another problem because when I was looking for work, it seemed that the ones not putting a salary range in job posting usually were on the low side. Not all of the time, but most of it.
IOW, get them in for the lowest cost possible. The fact is Miles that there are many people out there but they want or need more than people like you are willing to pay them. What is your general salary range for the positions you are looking to fill Miles?
It was. Not so much now and fast growth is a major negative where you live. Either way, Phoenix is a somewhat expensive area to live in and that climate pulls in a very specific type of person and maybe not the type of people that you need or ones willing to work there for the salary you are offering. I'll tell you what Miles, if you are uncomfortable listing salary ranges here, tell me what kind of lifestyle could a married employee with 2 kids living in the Phoenix area talking one of these jobs that you are offering have on the low end of the benefits package you are offering. What about the high end?