Amongst many shortages across the country it seems the labor force seems to have taken the biggest hit. In 2019 before Covid the economy was booming. Unemployment at a record low, jobs expanding across the country weekly and monthly.

Then the great shut down of 2020. Some died some retired (I'd wager less than were coming into the work force. Granted there was stimulus money but lots of crying about no work.

Then the country began opening. Companies came online slowly. Many businesses flat out failed reducing job openings even further. Stimulus was still there in some areas preventing some from going back to work until rules were enacted.

Yet here we are today.... hundreds of thousands of jobs and no workers. Where did they all go? Small businesses, restaurants, convenience stores, even liquor stores on reduced hours due to lack of staff.

Where did all of the workers go???? Was there a mass exodus I missed? Why isn't the news running around interviewing people about why they don't want to work like they do when unemployment is up?

You might try here in "what's your deal".
https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/6110099584
It seems to be "trending" or whatever the internet speak is.

Why work when Uncle Sugar pays me to stay home and beat my meat to catgirls, get high, and play Xbox? And even if Uncle Sugar isn't paying me more, I still ain't have to listen to no boss, or put miles on my car, or get up before noon.

There's also some employers who haven't shifted and still assume it's the Before Times where we're all replaceable parts. We still are, if you got the casssssh. It's easy to bail on a shitty job, and get a new one by lunch.

I’m waiting for the jobs to come back. Sorry, not working retail or food service for the first time at 47 for minimum wage. I’d last about 45 seconds of some dumbfuck flapping their jaws about anything. It’s better for all concerned that I wait this out.

Looks unemployed that don’t want to work will be joined by many who want to work, but don’t want the mandated COVID vaccination.

Yep, likely to see more sitting on the sidelines waiting this one out.

Work is a lifestyle choice in this country, not an act of survival.

quote:

Originally posted by berto:
I’m waiting for the jobs to come back. Sorry, not working retail or food service for the first time at 47 for minimum wage. I’d last about 45 seconds of some dumbfuck flapping their jaws about anything. It’s better for all concerned that I wait this out.

You make it sound like fun though. They won’t fire you so let the verbal abuse fly, brother.

I have been in the work force for more than 55 years. Retired from two agencies after 42 years then into self employment for another 10. Thinking about retiring altogether and spending my days in the woodshop, but apprehensive about not being gainfully employed. I want to feel I am contributing something. It is a lifestyle. Well, maybe I can sell some of my woodwork....

quote:

Originally posted by berto:
I’m waiting for the jobs to come back. Sorry, not working retail or food service for the first time at 47 for minimum wage. I’d last about 45 seconds of some dumbfuck flapping their jaws about anything. It’s better for all concerned that I wait this out.

I'm sure you have no desire to do this, but Amazon is paying $20ph to start with a $3,000 sign on bonus. They're desperate.

I’ve traveled extensively for work the past 16 years, many of those in the sky. The planes are full again, but where are the business travelers. I would estimate the professional traveler is making up roughly 20 percent of the air travelers I see. I’m amazed, mid-week, evenings, or early mornings all I see are families and pleasure travelers. Everyday feels like Holiday travel time, nobody knows what they’re doing. I’m baffled at what I’m seeing and wondering what happens if the business travelers come back with two many travelers chasing too few seats. Combined with exorbitant gas prices, how high will the prices go. This is what happens when mentally challenged children set economic policy… Build, Back, Stupid!

quote:

Work is a lifestyle choice in this country, not an act of survival.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Very true. The United States is fast becoming the land of entitlement.

Gonna get worse, much worse, before it gets better.

quote:

Originally posted by dking271:
The planes are full again, but where are the business travelers.

Many businesses have figured out that videoconferencing and remote working are much easier/cheaper than constantly physically flying employees all across the country.

It was already headed this way pre-COVID, and the pandemic quarantine period merely accelerated it as most everyone is now comfortable with videochat and remote work, even many of the old grognards.

Business travel will never go away 100%, but it's also not going to rebound back to pre-COVID levels.

^^^ Just got an email from an airline with a list of surprisingly exotic places the miles I've got could take me. I have to admit, though, my first question was whether this was a way of touting the fact that they're open while other airlines are or may be having problems with pilots and other employees over the vaccine.

Then again, videoconferencing also makes the vaccine irrelevant.

quote:

catgirls

Catgirls? Er, ah, asking for a friend.

Who, um, might be a catgirl. Maybe.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:

Catgirls? Er, ah, asking for a friend.

Who, um, might be a catgirl. Maybe.

A) Some of it is vestiges of a bunch of people got out of the habit of work.

B) Lots of early retirement.

C) We always were heading for an issue, as the boomers moved out of the workforce, exacerbated by Millennial incompetence.

D) I think most of Gen X is holding out for the young kids to make it into the work force - some great teenagers right now, at which point, they will promote them over the Millennials.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:

Catgirls? Er, ah, asking for a friend.

Catgirls = Anime cartoons

Add many families that found they could survive without two income earners, cut back on extra expenses, and eliminated child care costs along with clothes, gas, insurance, car payments etc.

How are all of these people who are opting not to work keeping themselves fed, clothed, sheltered and lets not for get the most important thing.... paying that mobile bill.

Unemployment is ending, stimulus is over. If someone has figured out how to maintain a decent lifestyle and not work I want to know how too!!!

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
You make it sound like fun though. They won’t fire you so let the verbal abuse fly, brother.

It might be kinda fun to yell at hippies at Whole Foods or wherever but I might need blood pressure meds. And I’m sure they’d fire me. A millennial asst. manager counseling me on customer service complaints would go over like a turd in a punch bowl. My give a fuck meter was getting faulty enough in the white collar corporate setting.