Prevailing wage is something we try very hard to support. Contractors are required to notify the State of the wages they pay for providing service. Each service sector (ie. bricklayer, plumber, electrician) has it's own description of what they do and what the most common wage and benefit package is for performing their craft in the County where the work is performed. 

When a project is being built that is using tax money (ie. schools, fire/police station, library) contractors must pay the prevailing wage. Without this contractors would be able to drive down wages, especially in hard times, to the lowest amount that a desperate worker will work. When workers work for less then what is the common wage the next contractor will come in cheaper and tell the workers, "I have the job, if you want to work here is what I am paying." Thus begins the race to the bottom.