Prosperity will never exist when the country is facing war, but in general, almost everyone does not want to work in low-paid jobs if there are other job options with more decent wages. But if some of them are facing a difficult situation such as war or like they have no other choice to survive, of course it will be very forced if they will continue to choose to work at jobs with low wages.
Although they will also continue to look for others for a more decent income because the state is only able to provide education and employment in a makeshift way, not as complete as what its citizens want. So the consideration of a job with a very small salary depends on how the environmental conditions or conditions of the country are at a certain time, because a job with a small salary is not suitable for long-term work.
Job seekers shouldn't sit back at home because of low salaries. Opportunities can as well fall out from the place of work, they can learn new skills or build an existing skill from that company. Having a gap in job history is bad for resume, and employees find it difficult to hire such applicants. That's why most time we have to start from somewhere. I understand his friend is a family man, what if he doesn't find another good paying job in few months. Staying at home is not an option, unless he's got some digital skills to keep him busy. What matters is having in mind that he won't end up in that low paying company. He should strategize his mind, to leave that place when a better opportunity arrives. Yet, he still needs the low paying job to warm up his skills to be qualified for the high paying opportunity.