Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 1964538)

To claim that none of the problem is due to the expanded benefits is disingenuous. Of course it is part of the problem. There may be other reasons too, but the expanded benefits are one of them.

It's really rather simple, if company A and company B need the same employees and company A starts paying more then the employees will go to company A. If the Govt is going to pay $14+/hour but company B only pays $12/hour then employees will go with the Govt.

The Govt wanted to set a $15 minimum wage but that didn't work. The Govt then voted to enhance unemployment benefits to the point that the benefits were competitive with what some companies were paying. If they couldn't force companies to pay more they could draw employees away from companies that pay less.

We can argue over whether company B should pay more than $12 but that isn't the point here.

Economists and the Govt tell us that analysis shows the expanded benefits are not the issue; companies that are trying to hire lower-wage workers say something different. Economists and the Govt told us things about the pandemic based on analysis as well - I'll believe the companies.

Originally Posted by jebartle (Post 1964551)

You know of course that we have lost 600,000 souls, some of which were part of the work force.

Originally Posted by blueash (Post 1964617)

Gee, I wonder if there is a demographic that has been filling the need for agricultural workers, hospitality, and construction workers that became unavailable over the last couple of years? You know filling all those jobs that the locals wouldn't do for the wages they paid and the hard labor they required.

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 1964619)

So where was the problem hiring people before the pandemic and government paychecks if this has been going on "over the last couple of years"?

IIRC, unemployment, especially among certain "demographics" was at an all time low...

Originally Posted by blueash (Post 1964617)

Gee, I wonder if there is a demographic that has been filling the need for agricultural workers, hospitality, and construction workers that became unavailable over the last couple of years? You know filling all those jobs that the locals wouldn't do for the wages they paid and the hard labor they required.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1964636)

You must have been watching a talk show during the months when there were dozens of farms that went out of business due to lack of available migrant workers. And when I say migrant, I mean migrant. Not "illegal immigrant." The legal documented ones were afraid of being caught up in raids and sent back to their home countries even though they were here legally. And that actually happened. In fact a few actual American-born American citizens were "sent back" to Mexico, by mistake. But I guess they didn't mention that on whatever TV channel or social media site you were watching. Or you did watch it and just forgot.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1964392)

Florida's unemployment rate is very low. That means most people who are "working people" are already employed. Florida has a high retiree rate, and a LOT of people have fled the north to move to Florida to retire in the past year. They've chosen to not return to work at all, and they're not getting unemployment or bonuses for staying home. They're retired, taking early pensions.

A lot of stores had closed down completely, gone out of business. All of THOSE employees have had a year of unemployment and career advancement educational opportunities. MOST of them have found jobs either in the same sector, or moved up to better jobs in other fields.

The rinky dink minimum wage stores and fast-food joints now have to compete to get employees, because most of those employees are seeking better elsewhere - and are getting better elsewhere. For instance: Publix isn't suffering for lack of employees. Why? Because they start their crew out at better than minimum in the first place. Plus a modest benefit package that doesn't exist anywhere else, including stock options for part-timers.

Dunkin gives you a free cup of coffee during your shift, and you have to buy your shoes from an approved online vendor. Why would anyone WANT to get paid minimum wage to work at a place like that, when they can work at Kohl's and get a sign-on bonus, you can buy your shoes wherever you want, and you get a discount on whatever you buy in the store?

People ARE back to work. They've been back to work. They've just chosen to not work at places where they felt they were treated like dirt.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1964392)

Florida's unemployment rate is very low. That means most people who are "working people" are already employed. Florida has a high retiree rate, and a LOT of people have fled the north to move to Florida to retire in the past year. They've chosen to not return to work at all, and they're not getting unemployment or bonuses for staying home. They're retired, taking early pensions.

A lot of stores had closed down completely, gone out of business. All of THOSE employees have had a year of unemployment and career advancement educational opportunities. MOST of them have found jobs either in the same sector, or moved up to better jobs in other fields.

The rinky dink minimum wage stores and fast-food joints now have to compete to get employees, because most of those employees are seeking better elsewhere - and are getting better elsewhere. For instance: Publix isn't suffering for lack of employees. Why? Because they start their crew out at better than minimum in the first place. Plus a modest benefit package that doesn't exist anywhere else, including stock options for part-timers.

Dunkin gives you a free cup of coffee during your shift, and you have to buy your shoes from an approved online vendor. Why would anyone WANT to get paid minimum wage to work at a place like that, when they can work at Kohl's and get a sign-on bonus, you can buy your shoes wherever you want, and you get a discount on whatever you buy in the store?

People ARE back to work. They've been back to work. They've just chosen to not work at places where they felt they were treated like dirt.

Originally Posted by Bay Kid (Post 1964316)

Are our leaders so blind to what is going on in main street America? All across the country there are help wanted signs but people are paid too well by the govern not to work. Is this someone's plan to increase wages, or just destroy the country?

Lack of workers is even hurting China. Not enough workers to unload the ships full of Chinese junk at our ports.

Originally Posted by Girlcopper (Post 1964676)

I think alot of people are missing the point. Unemployment is not meant to be a career goal. Its to carry you over while you ACTIVELY look for a job. The kids in their 20s still living in mommy and daddys basement rent free with not even a HS education should not be picky about what jobs they take. Minimum wage jobs are a stepping stone not a life long career either. You see many older people working minimum wage jobs because they want to keep active or maybe supplement their SS checks. The kids working the jobs should be educating themselves while working them. And dont say they cant afford further education. There are many grants out there to assist. And what about the ones who have 5 kids, cant afford them, never should have had them and are looking for you and me to support them. Thats the issue. Unemployment used to require you show proof that you are looking or your benefits were cut off. Ga. and Im sure several other states will cut off benefits permanently for anyone convicted of a drug violation. So, bottom line. Get off your butt, crawl out of mommys house and get a job. Any job. Have some pride in yourself!!

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 1964538)

If the Govt is going to pay $14+/hour but company B only pays $12/hour then employees will go with the Govt.