Where are all the WORKERS?

[8bitnes]

Quoting from article within past week

"Employers added 372,000 new jobs in June, about 100,000 more than economists expected. That’s more than double the number of new jobs needed in a stable, growing economy. The unemployment rate remains 3.6%, close to a record low."

As others have noted, the replacement rate of job seekers is not keeping up with the retiring boomers. And, many retired early too. Conversely, it's not stimulus money keeping people away, that was spent long ago by those without white collar jobs. And it's not housing assistance money that hasn't run out. Those funds are damn hard to qualify for which is why that program hasn't run out yet

 

[Huntinguy]

Quoting from article within past week

"Employers added 372,000 new jobs in June, about 100,000 more than economists expected. That’s more than double the number of new jobs needed in a stable, growing economy. The unemployment rate remains 3.6%, close to a record low."

As others have noted, the replacement rate of job seekers is not keeping up with the retiring boomers. And, many retired early too. Conversely, it's not stimulus money keeping people away, that was spent long ago by those without white collar jobs. And it's not housing assistance money that hasn't run out. Those funds are damn hard to qualify for which is why that program hasn't run out yet

I call BS because everywhere you look there is help wanted signs. Businesses closing because of lack of help. It's all lies about that unemployment rate!

 

[Handcannon]

I travel 35 counties of the tri-state area for my service job & I hear the same thing EVERYWHERE I go...no one wants to work. (Prisons, schools, hospitals, restaurants, department stores, meat lockers, casinos, locker plants). Too much free $ out there.

 

[8bitnes]

I travel 35 counties of the tri-state area for my service job & I hear the same thing EVERYWHERE I go...no one wants to work. (Prisons, schools, hospitals, restaurants, department stores, meat lockers, casinos, locker plants). Too much free $ out there.

Bottom line is crap jobs are open because they are coming with crap pay and not enough hours to get benefits. Either they can compete or fold. The people are working elsewhere.

School pay is crap. $13/hour for a special Ed associate and that's a damn challenging job. $18/hour for a bus driver. Vulnerable retirees left those spots and the non retired drivers are getting five figure signing bonuses with their CDL qualifications on the open market.

I can't imagine prison jobs pay well bc like schools, they too are state funded and have been awarded paltry raises for years. Heck county deputies and city cops start at roughly $40k, which is depressing. That's $20/hour for a 40 hour week across a 50 week year. That's terrible. Prison guards are paid less than officers.

Fast food jobs in the suburbs are paying $18/hour and still hiring. Restaurants in small towns can't approach that and the tips awarded by residents in those towns rarely do either.

The jobs you describe aren't open because of an abundance of free money. That money is long spent and the increase in gas and food prices means there is an increasing need for families to work. If the workers were there, the jobs would fill.

 

[Hardwood11]

I’m surprised gas stations and dollar stores can even get help. The local Dollar General in my home town has a new cashier every week .

Stopped in Casey’s on the 4th of July . There had to be 30-40 people getting gas and food and they had maybe 3 workers ?

I think those companies will continue to struggle to get employees and especially on weekends and holidays !

 

[Obsessed]

I go back to, bring back the real threat of starvation if you're not productive. People will be scrambling for these so called low paying jobs.

 

[TheMadCatter]

I’d rather work a job that I make $13 an hour (realistically less than that) without benefits. I make enough to hunt, pay my bills, and save just a tiny little bit for emergencies. (Guiding helps a little, but, I don’t make much more than $13 an hour doing it). Not to mention I’m able to have upwards of a MONTH of time off and have enough budgeted to do it. Wildlife is still extremely competitive and I have to compete against 100-400 applicants per job.

I’ve tried switching careers (Agronomy), but, nobody wants to hire someone who has seasonal work experience and a degree. Amazing to me how these company’s ask for experience then when you get it working a bunch of different places (for the required amount of time with no opportunity for extension) they throw your resume in the trash because now “You’ve worked at too many places for too short of time.”

 

[Jbohn]

The world has changed and not for the better.

- The 18-25 year old work force has disappeared , The jobs that are entry level cannot be filled . Fist jobs , jobs needed to start developing skills for your career.

- Not sure about the Midwest but most places around me have adopted , go to the store and check your self out !!!! Bag your own groceries.. Even at McDonalds place your own order on the touch Screen. Has this been adopted because of Technology or the Simple plan of adapt and survive. AS a business owner Computers are always on time and show up to work everyday . I still believe nothing is better than good customer service from a human being.

- Is technology to Blame ? Social Skills and the ability to communicate , I mean you cant text your answer back at the actually job interview !!!

- Is Parenting ? I mean get your A$$ of the couch and go get a Job. Or how about lets play video games all day .. Things Start in the Home.

- You all are correct Government has a huge role to play. It's Sad .. Joe Biden Really !! I still cant process he won .. I just don't understand .

- Everybody gets a trophy era !! Winning and loosing there is a difference . A man who works harder than what he's paid for will one day be paid for more than he does. This is True !! But it's suppose to work in that order !

- Religion , It's lost in our country.

Who we elect has a big role, they do need to force people to be productive members of society . There is tremendous opportunity in this country if one wants it. Sadly I don't think the new generations see it that way.


IT'S ALL BROKEN , THE WHOLE SYSTEM !!!!!!!

On the POSITIVE !!! We all have much to be thankful for here at IW.. Good people

 

[tall@wide]

Bottom line is crap jobs are open because they are coming with crap pay and not enough hours to get benefits. Either they can compete or fold. The people are working elsewhere.

School pay is crap. $13/hour for a special Ed associate and that's a damn challenging job. $18/hour for a bus driver. Vulnerable retirees left those spots and the non retired drivers are getting five figure signing bonuses with their CDL qualifications on the open market.

I can't imagine prison jobs pay well bc like schools, they too are state funded and have been awarded paltry raises for years. Heck county deputies and city cops start at roughly $40k, which is depressing. That's $20/hour for a 40 hour week across a 50 week year. That's terrible. Prison guards are paid less than officers.

Fast food jobs in the suburbs are paying $18/hour and still hiring. Restaurants in small towns can't approach that and the tips awarded by residents in those towns rarely do either.

The jobs you describe aren't open because of an abundance of free money. That money is long spent and the increase in gas and food prices means there is an increasing need for families to work. If the workers were there, the jobs would fill.

You are living in a dream world. So many people are not even looking for jobs anymore and have dropped out of the unemployment rate. I have several friends that run small businesses or mange at larger companies. No one wants to work. They interview just to keep unemployment money coming in, or they quit right away. A guy that lives in a trailer near my farm recently quit his job. He said I can make a lot more money not working and getting government assistance. He stays unmarried and keeps having kids to get more money. He drives a brand new, expensive truck paid for by the taxpayers.

 

[Slick]

Bottom line is crap jobs are open because they are coming with crap pay and not enough hours to get benefits. Either they can compete or fold. The people are working elsewhere.

School pay is crap. $13/hour for a special Ed associate and that's a damn challenging job. $18/hour for a bus driver. Vulnerable retirees left those spots and the non retired drivers are getting five figure signing bonuses with their CDL qualifications on the open market.

I can't imagine prison jobs pay well bc like schools, they too are state funded and have been awarded paltry raises for years. Heck county deputies and city cops start at roughly $40k, which is depressing. That's $20/hour for a 40 hour week across a 50 week year. That's terrible. Prison guards are paid less than officers.

Fast food jobs in the suburbs are paying $18/hour and still hiring. Restaurants in small towns can't approach that and the tips awarded by residents in those towns rarely do either.

The jobs you describe aren't open because of an abundance of free money. That money is long spent and the increase in gas and food prices means there is an increasing need for families to work. If the workers were there, the jobs would fill.

I am assuming that every person on this tread started out on low end paying jobs. That's how it works you start out on someting lower end and prove yourself and work your way up. These jobs are not something most will make a life long career out of they are a usefull steping stone on the path to what you ultimately will become.

 

[Slick]

I’d rather work a job that I make $13 an hour (realistically less than that) without benefits. I make enough to hunt, pay my bills, and save just a tiny little bit for emergencies. (Guiding helps a little, but, I don’t make much more than $13 an hour doing it). Not to mention I’m able to have upwards of a MONTH of time off and have enough budgeted to do it. Wildlife is still extremely competitive and I have to compete against 100-400 applicants per job.

I’ve tried switching careers (Agronomy), but, nobody wants to hire someone who has seasonal work experience and a degree. Amazing to me how these company’s ask for experience then when you get it working a bunch of different places (for the required amount of time with no opportunity for extension) they throw your resume in the trash because now “You’ve worked at too many places for too short of time.”

I would recommend you find an Agronomy company that you are interested in working with and see if they have jobs that are lower than what you are interested in and start there. In no time at all after you have proven yourself they will notice and move you up. Good luck I am in your corner.

 

[TheMadCatter]

I would recommend you find an Agronomy company that you are interested in working with and see if they have jobs that are lower than what you are interested in and start there. In no time at all after you have proven yourself they will notice and move you up. Good luck I am in your corner.

I would recommend you find an Agronomy company that you are interested in working with and see if they have jobs that are lower than what you are interested in and start there. In no time at all after you have proven yourself they will notice and move you up. Good luck I am in your corner.

Yes, but, 30 years ago if you graduated college you’d have a Biologist position right off the bat. People without degrees (or high school kids/college kids) had these technician position. Now people with their Master’s are applying for technician positions because they can’t get a Biologist position or something similar and they’re not even permanent jobs. I work with 35 year olds that still don’t have permanent jobs and have been trying their entire career to get a biologist position. There’s so many careers now where you don’t move up. I’ve tried applying for over 30 entry level Agronomy jobs and nobody will hire me. I’m not “below” starting at “the bottom”, but, when you have to have 1-2 years of experience to start at the bottom it seems a little idiotic.

 

[8bitnes]

You are living in a dream world. So many people are not even looking for jobs anymore and have dropped out of the unemployment rate. I have several friends that run small businesses or mange at larger companies. No one wants to work. They interview just to keep unemployment money coming in, or they quit right away. A guy that lives in a trailer near my farm recently quit his job. He said I can make a lot more money not working and getting government assistance. He stays unmarried and keeps having kids to get more money. He drives a brand new, expensive truck paid for by the taxpayers.

A-You contradict yourself
B-If you quit voluntarily you aren't eligible for unemployment
C-Iowa has heavily restricted the number of weeks one can claim unemployment
Step up to reality

 

[8bitnes]

I am assuming that every person on this tread started out on low end paying jobs. That's how it works you start out on someting lower end and prove yourself and work your way up. These jobs are not something most will make a life long career out of they are a usefull steping stone on the path to what you ultimately will become.

Yep. I started at $2/hour in a local restaurant in the 90s as a 14-yr old. Did some work at the grain elevator for $5/hr too. Walked beans on the farm and weaned hogs, cleaned hog sheds for free before that. In college, I worked food service and sold plasma. Landed a good internship in engineering as a sophomore and was making $600/wk plus furnished apartment paid for. Opened my IRA as a 20yr old with that money. Fully employed since 2004 and still hustle today with that career and two side gigs that bring in an extra $20,000 annually. My 13 yr old is already asking when he can go to work at the local fareway.

Both the above can be true and the understanding that the job openings exist not because of govt handouts.

If you want to point any fingers at all, it's the student loan payment pause. Those payments resume and they will have to go get second jobs to cover them. Right now, they are living on one job.

 

[daniel93077]

With the inflation we have had, considering what it costs someone to supply themselves or their family with food, clothing, shelter, and transportation and hopefully a little bit of living outside of that a lot of the jobs available just don't pay enough to put up with what they face: abuse from customers and/or employers, crappy schedules, unrewarding work, no real hope for meaningful advancement with the employer, etc. Unless the government stops providing aid (never going to happen) or wages come up I have to think employers will continue to struggle. Of course, some higher wage jobs are having trouble filling positions but that is often due to lack of talent in the area or the talent is being attracted to higher pay for the same work (nursing is one example that immediately comes to mind where some places just aren’t paying enough to compete for talent). I don't think there is a lot of appeal for most people to work full-time for pay insufficient to meet their basic needs.

 

[8bitnes]

With the inflation we have had, considering what it costs someone to supply themselves or their family with food, clothing, shelter, and transportation and hopefully a little bit of living outside of that a lot of the jobs available just don't pay enough to put up with what they face: abuse from customers and/or employers, crappy schedules, unrewarding work, no real hope for meaningful advancement with the employer, etc. Unless the government stops providing aid (never going to happen) or wages come up I have to think employers will continue to struggle. Of course, some higher wage jobs are having trouble filling positions but that is often due to lack of talent in the area or the talent is being attracted to higher pay for the same work (nursing is one example that immediately comes to mind where some places just aren’t paying enough to compete for talent) I don't think there is a lot of appeal for most people to work full-time for pay insufficient to meet their basic needs.

And, the number of employers who make positions at 29.5 hours so they can avoid paying insurance benefits is another piece of the problem. Offer 1 fulltime jobs with benefits instead of two part-time jobs without benefits and you will get more applicants.

 

[daniel93077]

And, the number of employers who make positions at 29.5 hours so they can avoid paying insurance benefits is another piece of the problem. Offer 1 fulltime jobs with benefits instead of two part-time jobs without benefits and you will get more applicants.

Exactly… if someone wants to come do my bidding for 12.50 an hour for 29 hours a week I’ll happily pay that and I’m not even generating revenue from their labor… just helping me get ahead on projects I want to get to but haven’t had time.

 

[daniel93077]

Also…with the outgoing baby boomers a lot of the original lower wage workers who have remained in the workforce have had some upward mobility in income with not enough low wage workers to replace them. My 18 year old son moved from part-time 12.50 per hour to $20 per hour full-time in 7 months and there is a lot of struggle to fill those $12-$13 per hour jobs.

 

[Obsessed]

Another thing that would impact me if I were entering the job market today is... "You will own nothing and will be happy." This statement scares the hell out of me as a middle age man, that one day all that I've worked, sacraficed and saved for, will be taken from me. If I were entering the job market, I could see myself thinking, why bother.

 

[tall@wide]

A-You contradict yourself
B-If you quit voluntarily you aren't eligible for unemployment
C-Iowa has heavily restricted the number of weeks one can claim unemployment
Step up to reality

In Illinois, and he just quit going to work and I'm sure they fired him. No one is going to just quit and bypass the free money. Plus, if you keep having kids you get more income thru the kids. Especially if you allow your parents to adopt the kids. Between the two parents living together and the kids you get welfare, medicaid, food stamps(snap), SSI thru kids who are labeled to have a disability, and head start programs. Not to mention the unemployment and covid payments they were receiving. I believe Iowa still has the homeowners assistant program related to covid hardship still going today. Ask someone living off the govt why they keep having kids. They will say because each kid brings in a lot of extra govt money. No telling what other programs Illinois and Iowa have that I don't even know about.