Need a job?

[Number 10 GI]

Yesterday the wife and I stopped for lunch at Outback Steakhouse. I noticed a lack of staff, the greeter who was also bussing tables, the manager, and maybe 2 servers. It took quite awhile for our order to be brought to the table. Overheard the manager talking with another customer, I think they knew each other, and he was saying that he needed 30 new employees but couldn't get anyone to apply. He said that all the restaurants in the area had help wanted signs out and I've noticed that myself and not just at restaurants. When the government just willy nilly hands out enhanced unemployment money why work.

[Topspinmo]

Why would anybody want low paying job when they can collect more in unemployment, party, and don’t have to to work? Probably won’t get any help till about 93 weeks and that’s if it’s not extended?:duck:

[tophcfa]

I have a good friend who owns a restaurant up north. When he reopened, after being forced to shut down because of the pandemic, his employees wouldn’t come back to work. Why work when they can earn as much or more doing nothing? The government is creating a disincentive for low wage earners to work. And with legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr., my friends already razor slim profit margins will evaporate. Because of that his business is for sale, but there are no buyers. He will most likely be forced to simply close down a family dinner that has been in business for over 100 years and multiple generations. Very sad.

[Vikingjunior]

I have a good friend who owns a restaurant up north. When he reopened, after being forced to shut down because of the pandemic, his employees wouldn’t come back to work. Why work when they can earn as much or more doing nothing? The government is creating a disincentive for low wage earners to work. And with legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr., my friends already razor slim profit margins will evaporate. Because of that his business is for sale, but there are no buyers. He will most likely be forced to simply close down a family dinner that has been in business for over 100 years and multiple generations. Very sad.

The legislation to raise minimum wage to $15 was shot down already during the last stimulus package.

Part of the problem is Florida's minimum wage is $8.64 per hour. I don't blame people who make minimum wage to sit home and collect the federal government's extra $300 on top of their base unemployment pay.

[Stu from NYC]

The legislation to raise minimum wage to $15 was shot down already during the last stimulus package.

Part of the problem is Florida's minimum wage is $8.64 per hour. I don't blame people who make minimum wage to sit home and collect the federal government's extra $300 on top of their base unemployment pay.

When tips are added into a servers pay they can do well.

Sad when the govt would rather borrow money than to work out a plan to get people back to work.

[Art cov]

This could be the death of many small businesses. I personally know of no one who makes minimum wage. Maybe high school kids who are starting out do. If someone can pass a drug test, and actually do something that’s profitable for business, they should be getting a job for over $10 to only go up if they are a descent employee. At this time, the government is paying about $15 an hour for people to stay at home. Some states are $275 and another $300 with state and federal. $575 to stay home every week. So in some minds, why work for $575 a week. Plus stimulus money. Horrible situation in America. Jobs are everywhere and good jobs in many areas of the country to pay $15-$20 an hour to start and raises when one is proven. Showing up on time and actually working without a bunch of drama is the key. Even fed ex, ups, and many others need workers, but earning a check and not wanting one for nothing years ago was the norm, but not today. I can only appreciate a good hard working person

[Tmarkwald]

The legislation to raise minimum wage to $15 was shot down already during the last stimulus package.

Part of the problem is Florida's minimum wage is $8.64 per hour. I don't blame people who make minimum wage to sit home and collect the federal government's extra $300 on top of their base unemployment pay.

I stopped in the McDonalds on 466 yesterday. First thing you see is a huge sign saying 'STARTING PAY $13 /hr"

Nobody is applying. $300/wk free money PLUS normal unemployment amount based on last lob, most likely taxfree, versus a full timer working for $520 a week, minus taxes.. Who's going to want to go back to work.

Basically, the entire country is on welfare. Take away that safety net of free money and they'll find a job very fast. Just hate people too lazy and expect the rest of us to support them.

[thevillages2013]

The legislation to raise minimum wage to $15 was shot down already during the last stimulus package.

Part of the problem is Florida's minimum wage is $8.64 per hour. I don't blame people who make minimum wage to sit home and collect the federal government's extra $300 on top of their base unemployment pay.

The amendment in Florida to increase the minimum wage passed although I voted against it. It will go up gradually and top out at $15 /hr in 2025 if memory serves. I think there is a cost of living increase after it reaches the $15

[tsmall22204]

Isn't America great. The lower middle class has an advantage that the upper middle class never had and they can't stand it. Be concerned for our people not how .ugh the government gives them, they deserve it.

[billyb1950]

The legislation to raise minimum wage to $15 was shot down already during the last stimulus package.

Part of the problem is Florida's minimum wage is $8.64 per hour. I don't blame people who make minimum wage to sit home and collect the federal government's extra $300 on top of their base unemployment pay.
Any state's minimum wage has little if anything to do with job vacancies. Businesses will fill positions independent of those minimum wages by offering more $$ to hire and retain quality employees. The minimum wage may be $8.64 but the real question is: what is the average market hourly wage across the state? I imagine it's more than minimum. In my personal opinion, three things are missing: work ethic, the value of work to the human condition, and pride. All seem to be woefully missing in the younger generation and if Uncle Sam keeps handing out our tax money to these folks, it will continue.

[maggie1]

Why would anybody want low paying job when they can collect more in unemployment, party, and don’t have to to work? Probably won’t get any help till about 93 weeks and that’s if it’s not extended?:duck:

It seems as though some of our citizens are not as satisfied to stay at home and collect free money. The unemployment rate has fallen to 6%. Let us all be a little more positive in our future; this pandemic has caused much more than death totals, it has divided us as a nation, and continues to do so. We will survive.

[nick demis]

Isn't America great. The lower middle class has an advantage that the upper middle class never had and they can't stand it. Be concerned for our people not how .ugh the government gives them, they deserve it.

So are you in favor of someone saying "I won't get a job because you pay me more to not work"?
When I was a kid, I got a very low paying job as an introduction into the work force. I advanced to finally owning my own business with a high pay. I never thought an intro job was supposed to be a career.
Guess I am just old fashion.

[gemini5001]

I agree with you 100%. You are absolutely right.
You hit the nail right on the head on that one. Wake up America !

[J1ceasar]

In this part of Florida the overriding reason for wages to be what they are or what the large entertainment companies are paying, basically Disney and universal set the wage scales. Everyone else has to match what their wages are or people will work for Disney and universal. There is no economic slump as they were plenty of jobs to go around that people simply are not taking. If you look at the advertisements for jobs there are hundreds of well-paying jobs for truck drivers that will literally pay you a $5,000 bonus and 100,000 a year to drive just the truck, there are thousands of sales jobs and there are tens of thousands of jobs for restaurants that are reopening which might have a very low hourly wage generally have good tips. The problem with the extra money on top of unemployment is the same problem Russia had when you screw around with your basic economy by mandating wages or creating restrictive laws, or giving out free money, there are many unintended consequences

[FromNY]

Maybe the government can clean up the immigrants .Put them to work in the restaurants and businesses that need help. The government can subsidize the business initially by providing assistance to get the immigrants housed and taught English. The business would create a loyal work force and the immigrants would not become a financial burden to this country. Most would be grateful for an opportunity to work and learn and live with the basics. As for the out of work collecting $$ . No more extensions. Don't want to work because income would be lower then government assistance? Well something vs nothing might motivate? Now take a job and maybe the government will find a way to still help out .

[Hackercraft]

Did a minimum wage job become a career path? I started my working career at $.50 an hour at a gas station pumping gas never occurred to me that I want to do that for the rest of my life and it gave me the desire to seek a better job.

[Bill1701]

When tips are added into a servers pay they can do well.

Sad when the govt would rather borrow money than to work out a plan to get people back to work.

And that is part of the problem around here. For every person who tips 15-20% there are two who tip 5-10%. This is why anyone who can prefers to work outside The Villages.

[wsachs]

Seems you lose benefits after 12 weeks and you MUST be actively looking for work. Florida Unemployment Benefits | Reemployment Assistance (https://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/florida-unemployment/#one)

[Mulliganguy]

Did a minimum wage job become a career path? I started my working career at $.50 an hour at a gas station pumping gas never occurred to me that I want to do that for the rest of my life and it gave me the desire to seek a better job.
Anyone other than a slough seeks personal achievement through hard work and the drive to attain goals. The government creates sloughs.

[Dilligas]

Conveniently forgotten is the previous administration, wanted to give MORE stimulus money to people. Both parties are socialistic!
Handing out more stimulus $ was needed. The problem was congress took so long to execute that by the time the checks were mailed, the businesses reopened and needed the workers. The smarter method would have cut the political BS and sent smaller checks out early last year and more often to help people maintain bills while still being laid off. Then when business was allowed to reopen, cut off the unemployment & if the workers could be recalled to their jobs. Instead our government had to send $$ to everyone across the board (save those who made enough to be taxed to pay for the checks) and incentivize staying at home to collect more.

[Girlcopper]

Isn't America great. The lower middle class has an advantage that the upper middle class never had and they can't stand it. Be concerned for our people not how .ugh the government gives them, they deserve it.
They deserve it? Why? I, like many, started out at minimum wage and worked my way up with an education to a comfortable salary and better paying job. This came with benefits and a well EARNED pension. No one “deserves” anything. Get out there and break your a## and earn it.

[Girlcopper]

So are you in favor of someone saying "I won't get a job because you pay me more to not work"?
When I was a kid, I got a very low paying job as an introduction into the work force. I advanced to finally owning my own business with a high pay. I never thought an intro job was supposed to be a career.
Guess I am just old fashion.
Very accurate. If mommy and daddy would stop letting the kiddies live in their homes rent free and sent them out into the world, we would have a generation with more ethics and pride in themselves. Theyre raised to believe they are special and entitled to take the easy way in everything. Scarey to say but they will be passing this attitude to their own offspring, if they even support them. Minimum wage is just that. Minimum. Its a starter not a life long career.

[T186021]

Painting the present employment environment with a broad brush may be unfair, as jobs reopen many employees cannot return to work due to issues related to child care, medical care, job locations, limited work hours, and changes in the job requirements. Before the lost of their jobs many employees paid payroll taxes weekly which funded the social programs that are assisting them. Businesses are receiving stimulus money and loans that are being forgiving, why not also support the individuals. This is a complex problem in our society but one that WE can solve together.

[riamd1954]

Yip keep giving free money and people will never work!!

[justjim]

Some of the comments are laughable and others political. The real reason is you have a supply and demand labor problem in The Villages. This area has grown so fast that the demand for jobs is much larger than the supply of people available for work. The shortage of labor has been predicted for several years and places like Central Florida and especially The Villages are among some of the first to see this problem but won’t be the last. We complain about raising the minimum wage to $15 a hour over a five year period as we sit on our lanai in our $$$$$$ houses and wonder if we might have to cook our own steak instead of going to a nearby steakhouse. Isn’t this a great country or what...

[bilcon]

" If any man thinks he will be happy and prosperous by letting the government support him, better take a closer look at the American Indian". Henry Ford

[G.R.I.T.S.]

The legislation to raise minimum wage to $15 was shot down already during the last stimulus package.

Part of the problem is Florida's minimum wage is $8.64 per hour. I don't blame people who make minimum wage to sit home and collect the federal government's extra $300 on top of their base unemployment pay.

Correct. The MINIMUM wage is $8.64. I dare say it would be a challenge to find a job that pays the minimum, though I'm sure they are out there. I fear more people will be out of work once Florida reaches the $15 mark, especially those who really need a job but may be considered undesirable. The law of unintended consequences...

[Lindsyburnsy]

Possibly by collecting enhanced unemployment, they have enough money to actually live and pay rent, food, gas, etc. If they made enough money at the Outback, they would probably be working. Most people want to work, regardless of what some people say.

[024engine]

Ruby Tuesday's at Spanish at Spanish Springs is way understaffed. We have waited an hour or more to get seated and then 20 minutes to get waited on. They have 1 ck and few waitresses. They can't get help, because workers would rather stay home and collect unemployment rather than work. They should not pay people for doing nothing when there are jobs available.

[Number 10 GI]

Possibly by collecting enhanced unemployment, they have enough money to actually live and pay rent, food, gas, etc. If they made enough money at the Outback, they would probably be working. Most people want to work, regardless of what some people say.

Servers make their money on tips, not the hourly wage paid by the restaurant. Good server receives good tips, poor server gets poor tips. Our granddaughter worked at a Waffle House restaurant while in college. She worked the breakfast shift and would routinely make $125 to $150 in tips daily, that's pretty good money. About 18 years ago a friend's son worked at an Outback and he would make $175 in tips working the evening meal hours.
There are a lot of people who are quite content staying at home and not work while drawing unenhanced unemployment benefits.

[RoadToad]

Seems you lose benefits after 12 weeks and you MUST be actively looking for work. Florida Unemployment Benefits | Reemployment Assistance (https://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/florida-unemployment/#one)

Don't bother us with FACTS; we prefer to berate the fiction:pray::pray:..
Jees, get with the program man..

[gail swanson]

Well said! Thx

[Villages Kahuna]

Ultimately all the cash dumped into the economy as the result of the economic stimulus bill will accomplish the objective of kick-starting virtually every economic segment and business. But like lots of things that are the product of political negotiations, often there are unintended consequences. That’s probably not a reason not to have passed the stimulus legislation, just a temporary unintended consequence.

Part of the cause of the problem You observed might also be the refusal of Congress to pass reasonable minimum wage legislation. If Outback was paying $15 an hour rather than a much lesser amount, they would be having less difficulty getting employees. Of course another unintended consequence is that your steak would probably be more expensive. But at least you’d get reasonable service.

[Villages Kahuna]

I’ve been told by people who know that The Villages Regional Hospital is having a similar problem hiring nurses, doctors and medical professionals. When UF Health took over they fired quite a few underperforming staff. Now for a wide variety of reasons, not just compensation, they’re having lots of difficulty hiring permanent replacements.

It’s a shame that such a beautiful, well-equipped hospital is only one of a few in the state rated with the lowest quality of care rating.

I’ve had a local primary care physician tell me, “If you wake up and find yourself in The Villages Regional Hospital, call a cab and get out of there as quickly as possible.”

[Number 10 GI]

Ultimately all the cash dumped into the economy as the result of the economic stimulus bill will accomplish the objective of kick-starting virtually every economic segment and business. But like lots of things that are the product of political negotiations, often there are unintended consequences. That’s probably not a reason not to have passed the stimulus legislation, just a temporary unintended consequence.

Part of the cause of the problem You observed might also be the refusal of Congress to pass reasonable minimum wage legislation. If Outback was paying $15 an hour rather than a much lesser amount, they would be having less difficulty getting employees. Of course another unintended consequence is that your steak would probably be more expensive. But at least you’d get reasonable service.

If a server would be making $15 an hour I'm not going to tip on top of what the steak would cost due to higher labor costs. I seriously doubt service would improve to any noticeable degree. Their reply to being criticized for poor service would be "what do you expect for minimum wage?"
Raising the minimum wage to $15 will result in the cost of goods and services going up and people now working for $15 would want a raise because apparently their services are worth more than minimum wage. In a few years the $15 will be just like the $8 + being paid now. Doesn't take a lot of rocket science to figure that out.

[Indydealmaker]

The legislation to raise minimum wage to $15 was shot down already during the last stimulus package.

Part of the problem is Florida's minimum wage is $8.64 per hour. I don't blame people who make minimum wage to sit home and collect the federal government's extra $300 on top of their base unemployment pay.

It is not the federal government's money. It is ours. The Biden administration is extorting small businesses to increase wages if they want to bring employees back.

[kkingston57]

Agree with thoughts that higher un employment checks are a disincentive for people to work especially with people who have children. I do see a lot of signs for work needed in this area.

Feel the biggest problem is the lack of younger people in this area. TV is booming and in the meantime birthrates(over the years) have been declining. Sumter County has one of the highest, if not the highest % of retired people in the state and probably going to get higher. In meantime very few if any new < 55 housing going up. TV and others are creating this problem. Not going to get better anytime soon.

[Bogie Shooter]

Agree with thoughts that higher un employment checks are a disincentive for people to work especially with people who have children. I do see a lot of signs for work needed in this area.

Feel the biggest problem is the lack of younger people in this area. TV is booming and in the meantime birthrates(over the years) have been declining. Sumter County has one of the highest, if not the highest % of retired people in the state and probably going to get higher. In meantime very few if any new < 55 housing going up. TV and others are creating this problem. Not going to get better anytime soon.
You need to look around at all the <55 housing being constructed.

[Vernon Hud]

I don't think the virus problem has been fully solved yet, and you people are complaining about not being served Quick enough at a restaurant. If I had a job as a server or waiter, I would think twice about going back to a job where anyone that comes in could infect them. When this pandemic is over with, I think most all the job problems will be solved. I'm sure you all that are complaining on this thread probably got 3 stimulus checks that you all gave back to the government, right. Quit complaining about others, look at yourself.

[EdFNJ]

The MAXIMUM unemployment benefit in FL is $275/week with a MAXIMUM of $3300 for 12 weeks. While I am sure there are people "playing" the $300 "windfall" to their advantage there are MANY MORE who are not. Do the math. Sometimes a few benefit who don't deserve it but generally it benefits the majority. Kind of like tax cuts for billionaires. I'm sure many folks HERE who "didn't need" the money they accepted to "stimulate they economy" took it and are b1tching about the extra $300 for a few more months those who aren't living the good life got.

"The state determines your weekly benefit payments based on your previous earnings during employment. In 2020, you can receive a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. You are entitled to a maximum benefit amount of $3,300." This means a lot of people aren't even getting $275/week.

[retiredguy123]

Seems you lose benefits after 12 weeks and you MUST be actively looking for work. Florida Unemployment Benefits | Reemployment Assistance (https://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/florida-unemployment/#one)
You are correct that the law "says" that you must be actively looking for work. But, people have been routinely cheating on that law and the Government has been letting them get away with it ever since the law was created.

[tophcfa]

If a server would be making $15 an hour I'm not going to tip on top of what the steak would cost due to higher labor costs. I seriously doubt service would improve to any noticeable degree. Their reply to being criticized for poor service would be "what do you expect for minimum wage?"
Raising the minimum wage to $15 will result in the cost of goods and services going up and people now working for $15 would want a raise because apparently their services are worth more than minimum wage. In a few years the $15 will be just like the $8 + being paid now. Doesn't take a lot of rocket science to figure that out.

Finding servers and bartenders who can earn tips is not nearly as big a problem as finding workers who only earn an hourly wage. Cooks and dishwashers slave in hot kitchens and typically work much harder than servers and don’t get tips. These are the people actually making your food, and at the end of their shift they have to watch the servers and bartenders sit down and count their piles of tip money, while wearing their grease and sweat filled kitchen clothes.

[Justus]

Any state's minimum wage has little if anything to do with job vacancies. Businesses will fill positions independent of those minimum wages by offering more $$ to hire and retain quality employees. The minimum wage may be $8.64 but the real question is: what is the average market hourly wage across the state? I imagine it's more than minimum. In my personal opinion, three things are missing: work ethic, the value of work to the human condition, and pride. All seem to be woefully missing in the younger generation and if Uncle Sam keeps handing out our tax money to these folks, it will continue.
Yep. It's insidious and institutional. Personal pride and initiative are being bred out of our youth in favor of government control. The Eloi. It's amazing how prescient HG Wells was...I swear his Time Machine was not a novel, but an experiential account of his own time travel.

[Pairadocs]

When tips are added into a servers pay they can do well.

Sad when the govt would rather borrow money than to work out a plan to get people back to work.

Our children (and I doubt they are exceptions !) worked their way through under grad and grad school working minimum wage jobs just as I did. While there are people who do not tip, over-all it really is much better than usually discussed. I was a "curbie" for a root-beer drive-in, and worked same for a Steak & Shake. Certainly saw it was not the way to great wealth, but, definitely much better than most would guess it to be. One thing my adult children and I all agree on having all worked a variety of these jobs; a significant problems among minimum wage workers is a lack of knowledge and/or skills in managing money. It's a sad and never ending problem in our society that those who need the greatest expertise in money management, are often those who left school before they took advantage of the 12 years of free education our country offers every individual. Please understand this is NOT ALL who work in these industries, but so many who most need the ability to compare prices, value, and convert net weights at the grocery store, lack such skills. They are the ones most like to NOT read the fine print on an auto lease or bill of sale, etc. etc. Also adding to the problem is that a high percentage of those who do complete their education may have been present in classes but paid little attention to learning.

This was verified when I was involved in research into this very topic. Those who completed secondary school with high attendance records and a history of completing assignments (regardless of g.p.a. !), but were not college bound, tended to NOT enter minimum wage jobs and entered skilled trade schools and apprenticeships and entered the military (where they received advanced education and skills training), and they attended community college evening outreach programs at a much higher rate than those who did complete secondary school but with sporadic and limited engagement in the classroom learning process.

We are a free county, free to reject education, however, mandatory basic education, provided free through taxes, could go a long way to solving many, not all of course, problems of our society. IF minimum wage jobs provided a launching platform, a support, for reaching for additional education or to gain skills to prepare for a better paying job, we could greatly reduce the number of welfare programs we must offer to keep our country from deteriorating to the level of many I have seen in travels abroad. There is much we "could" do. When my parents were young, education was mandatory in their state. IF anyone dared to "skip" school, Mr. "Jake", the "truant officer" as he was called, was a branch of the local police force, something like officers assigned to schools today to discourage drug use. Students and parents KNEW they had a responsibility to attend classes for 12 years; it was something you owed yourself and you duty to your country to be literate. While some could view this as anti-democratic (forced education) and obviously that is what has happened over the years since my parent's youth, it could just be worth a try rather than continue down this path ?

People do not seem to be concerned with the fact that many of our country's secondary schools have now dropped below the 50% graduation rate. This can have a devastating effect on GNP, wages, welfare burdens; it touches every aspect of our society.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

When tips are added into a servers pay they can do well.

Sad when the govt would rather borrow money than to work out a plan to get people back to work.

MOST minimum wage workers don't get tips. In fact, in the state of Florida, tip-earning employees only have to be paid $5.63/hour by their employers, because it's expected that they'll make up the difference with tips. Usually they do. Sometimes they don't.

But those workers who were earning below the normal state minimum, plus tips, I totally don't blame them for wanting to bow out of the rat race for a few more months before they run out of benefits.

Especially now that there's been another surge in COVID cases and many of these workers have kids who *cannot* be vaccinated since they're under age. The last thing they need is to bring home a virus that will require them to stay home with their kids for a 2-week quarantine, with no income at all, not even unemployment benefits.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

stuff

Painting the canvas with a pretty broad stroke there. In my graduating class in 1978, 1/8 of the senior girls didn't graduate because they were pregnant. In the same year's graduation class in a more rural part of our state, around 1/6th of the males didn't graduate, because they were expected to work on their family farm and you can't do that and be in a classroom at the same time, and the world wide web hadn't been invented yet.

In rural areas all over the country, kids are expected to NOT finish school, and stay on the family farm. In some of the poorer parts of this country, kids are expected to NOT finish school, and get minimum wage jobs to help their families financially at home. When it's time for them to fall in love and get married, they have NOTHING. No savings, because daddy drank it all. Or mama shot it all into her veins. Or big brother spent it at the track.

Not all kids CAN graduate school, because not all families are in a position to provide a home life to support their kids graduating school. Some people are truly and sincerely stuck at the bottom. They don't even know what it would be like to dream of getting out of the bottom, because all the people who are out - want to keep their own position, and do everything they can to ensure that the ones on the bottom stay there.

This isn't true for all poor people. It's not true for all rural people. And it's not true for all suburbanites. But it is a significant demographic that is never represented in these conversations, because they're the the ones you can't conveniently dump the blame on.

[Number 10 GI]

Painting the canvas with a pretty broad stroke there. In my graduating class in 1978, 1/8 of the senior girls didn't graduate because they were pregnant. In the same year's graduation class in a more rural part of our state, around 1/6th of the males didn't graduate, because they were expected to work on their family farm and you can't do that and be in a classroom at the same time, and the world wide web hadn't been invented yet.

In rural areas all over the country, kids are expected to NOT finish school, and stay on the family farm. In some of the poorer parts of this country, kids are expected to NOT finish school, and get minimum wage jobs to help their families financially at home. When it's time for them to fall in love and get married, they have NOTHING. No savings, because daddy drank it all. Or mama shot it all into her veins. Or big brother spent it at the track.

Not all kids CAN graduate school, because not all families are in a position to provide a home life to support their kids graduating school. Some people are truly and sincerely stuck at the bottom. They don't even know what it would be like to dream of getting out of the bottom, because all the people who are out - want to keep their own position, and do everything they can to ensure that the ones on the bottom stay there.

This isn't true for all poor people. It's not true for all rural people. And it's not true for all suburbanites. But it is a significant demographic that is never represented in these conversations, because they're the the ones you can't conveniently dump the blame on.

That happened a lot back in the early part of the 1900s. I grew up on a small farm in southwest Iowa and graduated from high school in 1965 and I don't remember a single farm kid dropping out of school. Education and graduating from high school was stressed pretty hard at that time. There were a few that were junior thugs that dropped out but they were town kids and were in jail within 5 years. In the mid west for the last few decades the family farm doesn't really exist, it is mostly large farmers that have bought neighboring farms or rent the land, and corporate farms. I believe you will find the majority of school drop outs are inner city kids in large cities.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

That happened a lot back in the early part of the 1900s. I grew up on a small farm in southwest Iowa and graduated from high school in 1965 and I don't remember a single farm kid dropping out of school. Education and graduating from high school was stressed pretty hard at that time. There were a few that were junior thugs that dropped out but they were town kids and were in jail within 5 years. In the mid west for the last few decades the family farm doesn't really exist, it is mostly large farmers that have bought neighboring farms or rent the land, and corporate farms. I believe you will find the majority of school drop outs are inner city kids in large cities.

Nevada has the highest dropout rate in the country. Vermont has the lowest.

There's apparently a thing called "dropout factory" schools, that's the term used to describe schools that have a persistent problem with a high dropout rate. 32% of minority students are districted to attend dropout schools. Only 8% of white students are districted to attend dropout schools.

Seems to me that schools containing primarily minority students are not being educated the same as schools containing primarily white students. It's not the fact that minorities are minorities - because the ones who are districted to attend non-dropout schools do as well in them as the white kids do. And white kids in the dropout factory schools trend as badly as the minorities attending those schools do.

[Prpcmom]

Painting the present employment environment with a broad brush may be unfair, as jobs reopen many employees cannot return to work due to issues related to child care, medical care, job locations, limited work hours, and changes in the job requirements. Before the lost of their jobs many employees paid payroll taxes weekly which funded the social programs that are assisting them. Businesses are receiving stimulus money and loans that are being forgiving, why not also support the individuals. This is a complex problem in our society but one that WE can solve together.
Thanks for this. Those of you who think workers are not returning to work because of all the unemployment benefits should try living on the amount of those benefits before complaining! And then, go help out the social services agencies that hear the concerns of the workers, as I have. There are MANY reasons why workers can not go back to work, don’t criticize until you know what is really going on! And, you should realize restaurant staff who get tips are paid BELOW minimum wage, as allowed by law, they DEPEND on tips just to get to minimum wage. What I’m seeing is that people want to get back to work but when they have to take care of someone in the family that is still affected by the after-effects of COVID-19, that can impact their ability to work. Or if they can’t get the vaccine because they don’t have access to the internet to get one of those precious appointments and need it because of underlying health factors, that can impact their ability to go back to work too. So, please learn more about the people you are criticizing for not going back to work, walk in their shoes, as the saying goes.

[Stu from NYC]

Nevada has the highest dropout rate in the country. Vermont has the lowest.

There's apparently a thing called "dropout factory" schools, that's the term used to describe schools that have a persistent problem with a high dropout rate. 32% of minority students are districted to attend dropout schools. Only 8% of white students are districted to attend dropout schools.

Seems to me that schools containing primarily minority students are not being educated the same as schools containing primarily white students. It's not the fact that minorities are minorities - because the ones who are districted to attend non-dropout schools do as well in them as the white kids do. And white kids in the dropout factory schools trend as badly as the minorities attending those schools do.

Question

How dangerous are these dropout schools for teachers and students?

Possible that teachers do not want to teach there as they are in fear?

[Road-Runner]

It seems as though some of our citizens are not as satisfied to stay at home and collect free money. The unemployment rate has fallen to 6%. Let us all be a little more positive in our future; this pandemic has caused much more than death totals, it has divided us as a nation, and continues to do so. We will survive.

People are only counted as unemployed if they're 1) Out of work and 2) Looking for work. The labor participation rate is what actually matters the most and as a country we're still down around 60%, at least that's what the number was a while back, haven't heard it mentioned in months. So 40% of working age citizens are not working, that of course includes anyone retiring before regular retirement age (~ 65) but also shows a lot of the country living off the efforts of others..

[Road-Runner]

"The state determines your weekly benefit payments based on your previous earnings during employment. In 2020, you can receive a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. You are entitled to a maximum benefit amount of $3,300." This means a lot of people aren't even getting $275/week.

$275 x 12 = $3300

I'm pretty sure everyone who lost sufficient income is getting the $275 week unemployment bonus. If someone was already not working prior to the pandemic, I'm not sure why they would qualify for extra 'pandemic' relief other than the $1200, $600 and $1400 checks the government already paid out to them.

[Viperguy]

The market can and should adjust wages. If a restaurant can't find workers they can voluntarily raise their wages (Unless they are a corporate store). In North Dakota (I heard) during the employment boom pre-covid, they had to pay upwards of $25/hour for fast food workers. Federal minimum wage is a joke and simply a political ploy for votes.

[Stu from NYC]

The market can and should adjust wages. If a restaurant can't find workers they can voluntarily raise their wages (Unless they are a corporate store). In North Dakota (I heard) during the employment boom pre-covid, they had to pay upwards of $25/hour for fast food workers. Federal minimum wage is a joke and simply a political ploy for votes.

Why anyone would want to be satisfied working at a minimum wage job is beyond me.

Did it as a teenager and knew it was temporary. Many businesses are looking for people and not all at min wage salary.

Get training and keep looking for something better while working at min wage.