Member-only story
Help Wanted!
The Labor Shortage and Why It Will Never Get Better.
Why we may never figure this out.
From restaurants to factories to teachers, everywhere you look the ubiquitous sign is hung — “HELP WANTED!” Will this fallout ever end? Will it get better anytime soon? Buckle up, my friend. We are going for a ride.
The labor shortage is born from at least 1,000 reasons but this current period is one that will endure for a while due to poor past practices, economic success, and structural changes that are not likely to be resolved anytime soon. There is scarcely an industry that is not facing a severe shortage of the one thing any process cannot do without — people.
Finger Flippers
Workers are all too happy to be flipping the finger at employers that suck, offer poor pay or work environments. Job openings are everywhere and having an unsatisfactory work environment is reason enough for many to quit and look around for greener pastures.
The Rise of — Wages
This might be one of the golden ages of labor — a period where a dedicated employee of any type is watching their base pay rise. Employers are courting new employees with sign-on bonuses, substantially higher pay, and better benefits. Competition for qualified and even…