As a reminder...this is where we started:
Is where we're at now what you meant by this statement?
The primary driver of your career advancement lies with you. Your willingness to put in the grind. You striving to educate yourself further. You reaching out to mentors. You taking the time to watch some Ted Talks. Your doing whatever you can to make yourself a valuable commodity.
An actively engaged employer that proactively nurtures your growth is an unbelievable benefit and makes things much easier (and in the end produces a more active and loyal employee base). But that's not always the case, and employees shouldn't just expect it to happen.
If you're not motivated to improve your lot in life, no amount of prodding by your employer will change your station. If you're some neck tattoo loser with a bad attitude and a poor work ethic you SHOULD be passed over by the person with the drive to succeed.
What I'm saying is, the initial motivator in improving ones situation resides within themselves. They have to set things in motion, not just wait for some kind of employer promotion tsunami that magically pushes them into higher wages.