Low Wages and Crappy Jobs Gave Us the Labor “Shortage”

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
The supposed labor shortage—one generated by an allegedly too-generous welfare system—is anything but. Among the economic lessons of the pandemic is an obvious one: Wages are too low, jobs too shitty. If employers want workers to return to flipping burgers for possibly unvaccinated customers in the midst of the greatest public health crisis in America’s history, then they should pay them more. If the government is beating the private sector in terms of providing a livable wage, that is a fault of business owners, who, in their infinite self-regard, seem to think that workers should be grateful for whatever crummy, sub-subsistence job they manage to get. (It’s also an argument for the government to get in the business of enforcing livable wages.)

Americans are suffering in myriad ways right now, and many jobs, including in fast food, food and package delivery, and other low-paying fields, expose people to health hazards and exhausting working conditions. Some need to care for sick family members and would rather accept government support—however provisional it is—rather than take a job that would pull them out of the home, often at wages that are inadequate to paying for out-of-home care. And the truth is that for many people, unemployment benefits aren’t enough: One-third of U.S. households that accept unemployment still struggle to pay for basic necessities, according to the Census Bureau.

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But what makes a “suitable” job, anyway? Thanks to the pandemic stimulus, more people seem to be in a position to ask. From the Post:

Tim worked for years as a manager at a major retailer. Last year, he was frustrated by what he felt were lax safety conditions at work and having to deal with irate customers who didn’t want to wear masks. He quit in the fall as the virus surged again. Now he’s going to school to become a wind turbine technician through a program backed by the government. Sara also spent many years in retail and wants to do something more meaningful now.
“The problem is we are not making enough money to make it worth it to go back to these jobs that are difficult and dirty and usually thankless. You’re getting yelled at and disrespected all day. It’s hell,” said Sara, who is 31. She added that with two young kids, finding child care has also been a huge issue lately.






Too bad .... some jobs require getting your hands dirty
 

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
The New Republic is rated "Left" by Media Bias Check. So let's keep that in mind.

The article is utterly ignoring the fact that people who aren't TAKING jobs are being paid to do nothing. Perhaps the writer believes that politicians and Washington are a better gauge of what a worker's labor is worth, but that's something that's been perfectly satisfactorily determined by the marketplace.

There is absolutely no question in my mind whatsoever - that without the "safety net" - these jobs will be filled fast. What was it not long ago, that illegal aliens took the jobs Americans didn't want to do? Well, where are the workers?

WORSE - we were ALSO told that workers are staying home because after a year, a vaccine and diminishing numbers and states opening up - well, far too many MILLIONS of people are too AFRAID to return to work. They're going to sports, and outdoor functions, the beach and the stores and restaurants - but they're way too afraid to actually work in an office.

The whole "they're not working because jobs suck" is stupid but it clearly shows the liberal point of view - that workers have a level of money they need to have regardless of the value of their skills. To do business, you need labor - to attract customers, you must provide a product or service at a price they can afford to pay. To do that, you pay employees to do the work - if you pay too much and don't do enough business - you're broke. If you charge too much for your product or services - you don't make money. If you pay your employees too little, they don't show up. Over time, businesses develop an optimal formula. Hence, some businesses offer better pay for what are otherwise unskilled jobs in order to keep good employees. It's always expensive to have lots of turnover or keep bad employees.
 

Bluecrqbe

Active Member
The New Republic is rated "Left" by Media Bias Check. So let's keep that in mind.

The article is utterly ignoring the fact that people who aren't TAKING jobs are being paid to do nothing. Perhaps the writer believes that politicians and Washington are a better gauge of what a worker's labor is worth, but that's something that's been perfectly satisfactorily determined by the marketplace.

There is absolutely no question in my mind whatsoever - that without the "safety net" - these jobs will be filled fast. What was it not long ago, that illegal aliens took the jobs Americans didn't want to do? Well, where are the workers?

WORSE - we were ALSO told that workers are staying home because after a year, a vaccine and diminishing numbers and states opening up - well, far too many MILLIONS of people are too AFRAID to return to work. They're going to sports, and outdoor functions, the beach and the stores and restaurants - but they're way too afraid to actually work in an office.

The whole "they're not working because jobs suck" is stupid but it clearly shows the liberal point of view - that workers have a level of money they need to have regardless of the value of their skills. To do business, you need labor - to attract customers, you must provide a product or service at a price they can afford to pay. To do that, you pay employees to do the work - if you pay too much and don't do enough business - you're broke. If you charge too much for your product or services - you don't make money. If you pay your employees too little, they don't show up. Over time, businesses develop an optimal formula. Hence, some businesses offer better pay for what are otherwise unskilled jobs in order to keep good employees. It's always expensive to have lots of turnover or keep bad employees.
Amazon hired over 500,000 during the last year, starting them at $15 an hour AND giving them health care. Some of those folks I’m sure were flipping burgers before that or doing some other type of restaurant work.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifesty...kers-hiring-spree-pushback-union-vote-alabama

This country has had too many low level jobs for quite some time, but big companies like Amazon are pulling those non-college educated folks up.

If these shortages are truly due to the extra unemployment benefits, well those end in 3 months, we’ll see what happens. I personally think a lot of people went to better jobs.
 

Monello

Smarter than the average bear
PREMO Member
Any job where you get paid, is a good job.

In hindsight what probably should have happened with the unemployment supplement money is have it on a sliding scale based on your prior employment wage. People on unemployment are suppose to be actively seeking employment. If they apply for a job then turn down a job offer, the benefit should stop. That tactic would fill all those job openings lickety split.
 

UglyBear

Well-Known Member
Wages are too low, jobs too shitty.

Too bad .... some jobs require getting your hands dirty
Let’s not forget the big elephant in the room — the huge supply of illegal labor.

Those guys and gals are happy to get their hands dirty for below min wage cash under the table, and all the employers are happy to hire them.
 

limblips

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
Instead of bettering yourself and acquiring a marketable skill just march in the streets fighting for more money for the minimum wage job you had and complaining about being oppressed.
 

Grumpy

Well-Known Member
Instead of bettering yourself and acquiring a marketable skill just march in the streets fighting for more money for the minimum wage job you had and complaining about being oppressed.
Thats what is so funny about this...You making $9 an hour..hold out for a minimum wage to be raised to $15..Suppliers adjust their pricing accordingly and you are getting the same bang for your buck that you were getting @ $9 an hour.
 

UglyBear

Well-Known Member
So you support free college or tradeshool tuition programs?
Free college — never, that’s the dumbest idea ever.

Trade schools — those are already almost free. Many companies that need skilled tradesmen either offer tuition waiver upon completion, or do 1/2 day school - 1/2 work that pays for the school part.

The problem is getting kids in those programs and getting them to finish, and pass the cert test.
 

limblips

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
So you support free college or tradeshool tuition programs?
To a point. The key being marketable skill! I have always supported trade schools financial assistance because lawyers and doctors aren't the ones I call when number 2 is backing up in my toilet!
 

glhs837

Power with Control
If these shortages are truly due to the extra unemployment benefits, well those end in 3 months, we’ll see what happens.

Not if the progressive's get their way, these will be enshrined in law and untouchable. So maybe we wont.


So you support free college or tradeshool tuition programs?

Free, no, subsidized with locked in loans? Sure, if you meet the following conditions. Roll tuition back to something dimly related to cost of living. Allow degrees to be had without all the BS adddons that serve for nothing but to add to the colleges bottom line. You want those, fince, but not as requirements. And loans for low wage, low employment fields (gender studies, African Studies, etc) capped as a percentage to totla loans given tied to the employability of graduates in those felids. And for a reasonable amount that relates to what grads in that field make. No 150K eight year debts for a field that has jobs for 2% of graduates that at most haul in 40K a year.
 

Hijinx

Well-Known Member
The great depresion was probably one of the worst times in American history, other than wars.
People had nothing, they were starving and business was stagnant. People took any job they could find, but there were no jobs.
No one was screaming for higher pay, they just wanted to be able to feed themselves and their families.

Things are different today. The government tit is out and being sucked on. Sucked on hard.
People are getting government money and basically saying they won't work for less than the Government is giving them.
Normally what the Government is giving them would come from tax payers. Even that is not true any longer.
The Government just prints money. It's not worth the paper it's printed on except for the guarantee of that same Government.
And how long can that Government survive without people working and paying taxes. How long can it keep going in the hole?

I guess it's a conundrum, a riddle with no real answer,
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
So you support free college or tradeshool tuition programs?

I support affordable college tuition. There's no reason why college should be as pricey as it is.

It's amazing that it doesn't occur to you people to demand the cost of higher education be reasonable; instead you demand that Uncle Sugar buy it for you.
 

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
I support affordable college tuition. There's no reason why college should be as pricey as it is.

It's amazing that it doesn't occur to you people to demand the cost of higher education be reasonable; instead you demand that Uncle Sugar buy it for you.
"you" being a general term in this case. Ole Bushy barely finished high school.
 

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
There's no logic to the idea that - jobs are too sh!tty for people to GO BACK TO. These openings WERE THERE - and now they're still vacant.
You're at home collecting unemployment - and you think your old job sucks (which is what most people think of their jobs). You think, nope, I'll stay and starve and shiver in misery, because that job isn't worth returning to. WAIT- no I don't have to do that. Uncle Sam has me on indefinite PAID VACATION.

More people are on unemployment - and I know personally at least one person who has no intention of working as long as he gets free money.

Again, no logic to - job sucks, not going back. Paul the Apostle saw the wisdom in "he who will not work, let him not EAT" and see how fast it works. Works with my kids - don't want to clean up your room? Then you can stay in there, sans all electronics and phone.

When you don't have money - you'll work for it. When you have enough and don't have to work, no need.
 
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