topic Re: Continued Worker Shortage in Community Chat

Continued Worker Shortage

On It — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 13:16:16 GMT

The shortage of workers continues despite the fact many unemployment benefits have expired particularly in my state. Vice-President Harris posted on Twitter that millions of women left the workforce and are not returning which could slow our economic recovery.

The pandemic changed the workplace forever. People were laid off by companies large and small. During that time women were at home with their children and many realized how little their job was contributing to the bottom line of their family's finances. Eliminating outside childcare showed a lot of workers they were just as valuable monetarily by staying home not to mention the immense value of being a full-time mom. This not only affects low-paying jobs but has also affected professionals with careers in major companies. It has impacted the workforce at every level of employment.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

wagirl — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:09:57 GMT

AGREED---

Low wages are a huge thing---everyone deserves a living wage to be able to raise their kids, have a home and not worry about being able to afford health care/education/food ----in all levels of employment ----when I heard that Taco Time was raising their wages for their workers, at first I was shocked but the more I thought about it---good on them-----when I quit my job in 2009--I still was not making $15 an hour. It was a retail job and had been there for 12 years---my raises were 25 cents an hour per each YEAR-----had a spouse that made good $$ so it wasn't a real hardship but it could have been----this pandemic has really made a gigantic impact on every aspect of our lives--mostly for the bad but hopefully, something good will come from it---can only hope, right????

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

CrazyDaisy — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:23:52 GMT

Raising wages for many business is simply not an option. Many run on very low margins and higher wages will only lead to higher prices. Continued inflation will bring many back into the job market to help pay expenses.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

goldensrbest — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:26:48 GMT

What is the thinking about not enough truck drivers, on the road ,that is one reason given for lack of items in the market place ,and dock workers also,where did the workers go to?

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

RetRN — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:27:14 GMT

I believe it will continue to get worse. Praying for changes next year, hopefully it won't be too late.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

millieshops — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:35:05 GMT

@On It The dislocation of workers is showing the many issues involved in solving the problems. There was a time I thought there would be a big change as the federal support system ended, but the more I have read, the more I understood better what we are up against.

I had started to think that end wouldn't end the lack of workers working, but I had no real info to back my thinking until the details began to come in from the states where that subsidy ended and still, they were unable to see workers returning any more than the states that had never used the federal subsidy.

So if taking money away from the potential workers doesn't bring them back, what will work? What will that cost - what changes in life style, what changes in where people live, what money should go where???

Why are problems so easy to identify, but so difficult to find their solutions?

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

geezerette — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:58:34 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
What is the thinking about not enough truck drivers, on the road ,that is one reason given for lack of items in the market place ,and dock workers also,where did the workers go to?

@goldensrbest

Many truckers retired during the slowdown. I forget what the average age for long distance truckers is, but it's in the average retirement age area. And young people don't want to get into that profession. Also, it does take training beforehand, so it's not like just anybody can hop in a big rig and drive it cross country.

There are dock workers and they're willing to work 24 hours, but there are backups all along the supply chain. Warehouses are full, rail yards are backed up, etc.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

bikerbabe — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:59:23 GMT

Yup. Working mothers is a big deal. So many lower wage workers are WOMEN. Childcare options continue to be lousy and ridiculously expensive. I know families that have decided to tighten the budget rather than have both parents work.

Also, some seniors who used these jobs for part time work have left permanently.

Finally, some service workers have left the field and found jobs elsewhere. Good for them!

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

freakygirl — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:23:11 GMT

i'm pretty sure this won't be a popular opinion, but since worker shortage is messing up many aspects of our economy, i think we should allow foreigners on a very limited and conditional visa, to come to this country to work. it should be strict though, so they can't stay forever. we just need people to fill in the need, otherwise, we will continue to suffer the changes that this pandemic has wrought on businesses

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

Laura14 — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:25:12 GMT

I send out new hire invites weekly and it's not unusual for a prospective employee to ghost us and never complete the new hire process. It's less than a 50/50 chance that they'll either complete the application, show up the first day, or stay for more than a week.

We've also had to hire extra people because the young ones can't multitask like the older generation did which drives up our payroll for what, in the past, would have been an unneccesary expense. They're too busy on their phones and you have to really balance discipline because they will walk for nonsense and there aren't many people lining up to replace them, if any.

I feel bad for this generation which is going to have a very rude awakening when the job market swings back the other way and they actually need a job after leaving mom and dad.

I think workers who got severely abused during the recession and handed two, three or more jobs when half the workforce was laid off and never rewarded for it in raises or benefits which have all but evaporated from today's workplace are just tired. I know I am. If I had been made to quarantine and not work through the pandemic, I'm not sure I'd be in a hurry to start up with the day to day nonsense again either.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

nevergivesup — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:25:22 GMT

I’ve read several articles on this topic recently and it is clear that this is a multilayered problem. One glaring factor is that over 710,000 people have died in this pandemic which equates to almost three quarters of a million shattered families. Many who died were frontline workers themselves or caring for their grandchildren while their children worked low wage jobs etc.

Also, we can’t overlook the fact that many, many people are long haulers suffering with serious side effects that continue to make it impossible to work as before. I have a niece, single parent of two young children, whose life has been totally derailed by what was considered only a moderate case. She used to be a bundle of energy, worked two jobs, and now has shortness of breath and other symptoms just moving about her apartment. She is very depressed and unable to get any real handle on if or when her condition will improve. It was very upsetting to her when the public was talking about all the lazy people milking the system.

Also, workers in healthcare are leaving in high numbers particularly since the pandemic is still circulating across the country. Coupled with exhaustion, fear and sacrifice, they are now being threatened and bullied in certain parts of the country. The examples I read about were horrifying and disgraceful. Where is the outrage? Until this virus is sufficiently quashed I think we will be in this position for quite some time.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

RetRN — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:37:34 GMT

I have been getting fliers in the mail almost daily looking for workers to hire at area businesses.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

On It — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:40:56 GMT

@millieshops I believe affordable childcare will bring some people back, but not all. Larger companies could provide onsite childcare as part of their benefit package. Restaurants and other businesses may need to form cooperatives where workers can enroll children at reduced rates eliminating the need for a "for profit" situation. Surely someone smarter than me and certainly more powerful can think of solutions and implement them. Everything seems stuck in a rut and no one wants to change the status quo.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

tansy — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:42:52 GMT

@CrazyDaisy wrote:
Raising wages for many business is simply not an option. Many run on very low margins and higher wages will only lead to higher prices. Continued inflation will bring many back into the job market to help pay expenses.

Not every small business deserves to make it.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

On It — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:49:32 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
What is the thinking about not enough truck drivers, on the road ,that is one reason given for lack of items in the market place ,and dock workers also,where did the workers go to?

I think they found other jobs or retired. The baby boomers are pretty much all eligible for retirement and this pandemic pushed them to do that. I know partners in large firms who retired during the pandemic. A lot of people realized how fragile life can be and quit.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

millieshops — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:51:56 GMT

@On It I agree big time that affordable child care would make a difference. I wish I thought the minds with the political power were actually working to find a way to make that happen. This is not a new problem - as far back as the 1960s when I finished my undergraduate degree and went to work, my choices were already slim and expensive. I am cynical enough to think they know what needs to be done, but don't have the political will to do it.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

mac116 — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 16:14:29 GMT

@Laura14

Excellent thoughts!

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

Meowingkitty — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 16:33:54 GMT

I am a baby boomer and I got laid off in 2014 at the age of 58. I was so done with the bs of corporate America I never went back to work. And even today, yes I could get a job but do I want one? A big fat no. I don't want to deal with the drama, driving, corporate politics, people etc. and I'm sure that's where lots of people are.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

Meowingkitty — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 16:35:06 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@On It I agree big time that affordable child care would make a difference. I wish I thought the minds with the political power were actually working to find a way to make that happen. This is not a new problem - as far back as the 1960s when I finished my undergraduate degree and went to work, my choices were already slim and expensive. I am cynical enough to think they know what needs to be done, but don't have the political will to do it.

Fine. Make child care affordable for the parents but don't make me pay for your kids. You had them you pay for them.

Re: Continued Worker Shortage

chlema — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 16:40:10 GMT

@goldensrbest Perhaps many stayed in their own country due to the difficulty in getting work visas?