What I’ve been saying about the Labor Shortage all along

Dude I’m a general contractor and normally I have a couple sub Crews and a 1-2 employees. This year I have had nothing but me. I have to charge up the roof to do a job. I have customers that at old complaining , they do not get how difficult it is to run a business now.
We had crazy lumber prices this spring , how do you bid a job with that? 25percent is my profit margin. And if materials went up that much in a week after my bid I lose my money.
Really this seems like a push to get rid off the self employed people and a push towards socialism.
It ain’t going to happen. When does the first shot get fired?

originally posted by: Brotherman
When McDonald’s starts paying better wages then I make as a welder/machinist I’ll go there to earn more and leave a skilled job vacant because well money.

I didn't bring up McDonalds as the labor shortage is more than fast food.

originally posted by: AutomateThis1v2
I find it peculiar that there is a labor shortage, and employers say no one is applyi g to their jobs yet damn near all the people I know personally, including myself, who have been applying to jobs and submitting resumes have barely received any dates for interviews.

I've been calling the facilities I applied to trying to get a hold of HR, and I've only been successful in talking to one actual person who then gave me a number for another HR person to call which started the whole thing over.

It just seems odd that places are saying they can't find people who want to work, but it seems they just aren't actively taking applicants.

I've got some acquaintances in other states who are part of the hiring team and they lost a good chunk of their employees after firing them for not being vaccinated, and now they can't find anyone who is vaccinated who want to apply. Guess they'll have to change their vaccination requirement or shut down.

I guarantee you, the better jobs "available" as advertised, do not match the better jobs available in reality. One of my kids' friends' parents has been looking to get into better paying work for months, and cannot get an interview for #. PLENTY advertised empty job positions around GR, just ask anyone in the area -- but the actual work is slim to none outside of retail right now. In other words, skilled work is evaporating.

Those good jobs aren't there, it's a ruse. I'd bet the left boob on it.

a reply to: Nyiah

Someone is paying attention. Those signs outside MickyD’s for $12-$15 to start with a $200 sign on are not there either. But it is advertisement. Sure, some may get hired but your hours won’t be there. Sure, I can pay you $100/hr but if you only work 3 hrs a week what good does that do you? $7.25 @ 40 is $290. $15 @ 20 is $300. Feel special yet?

Skilled labor. Skills can be taught if the person wants to learn them then do it until adequate. Craftsmanship is the lost art. That takes passion and lots of practice. A garage band is skilled labor, gigging out in the bars is craftsmanship. If we need people in the trades, trade schools will be pushed. And they are slightly. In the past five years I have heard of more high school students forgoing college for trade school for welding, electrical and plumbing. HVAC and carpentry wasn’t mentioned. Machinists are all CNC operators now. Mechanics require specialized schools now. They even break down to make (Honda, Harley, etc) in motorcycle mechanic schools. So mechanic has become super specialized like doctors.

And at the far end, traditional businesses still require a college degree (don’t care what) in the most mundane of jobs. And will still refuse to hire without one even if you drop a half million dollar idea that was never considered during your interview...(true story).

a reply to: Quadrivium

...(to hire 87,000 more agents), to go after $600 transactions...

Forgive my ignorance, but what is this $600 figure I keep seeing mean?

What is the government planning to do with $600 transactions?

(just don't know the answer).

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

It isn't $600 transactions, it's accounts with a de minimis of $600 in them will be reviewed for all transactions by the IRS as they will be looking for people who are avoiding paying taxes. Allegedly.

originally posted by: Nyiah

originally posted by: AutomateThis1v2
I find it peculiar that there is a labor shortage, and employers say no one is applyi g to their jobs yet damn near all the people I know personally, including myself, who have been applying to jobs and submitting resumes have barely received any dates for interviews.

I've been calling the facilities I applied to trying to get a hold of HR, and I've only been successful in talking to one actual person who then gave me a number for another HR person to call which started the whole thing over.

It just seems odd that places are saying they can't find people who want to work, but it seems they just aren't actively taking applicants.

I've got some acquaintances in other states who are part of the hiring team and they lost a good chunk of their employees after firing them for not being vaccinated, and now they can't find anyone who is vaccinated who want to apply. Guess they'll have to change their vaccination requirement or shut down.

I guarantee you, the better jobs "available" as advertised, do not match the better jobs available in reality. One of my kids' friends' parents has been looking to get into better paying work for months, and cannot get an interview for #. PLENTY advertised empty job positions around GR, just ask anyone in the area -- but the actual work is slim to none outside of retail right now. In other words, skilled work is evaporating.

Those good jobs aren't there, it's a ruse. I'd bet the left boob on it.

If your kid can swing a hammer, have him come to Colorado. If you put him on the 8am UA flight to Denver, he'll have a full-time job paying $25-30/hour before lunchtime! Seriously. He'll get 50-60 hours a week in, with no let up. This whole area is exploding, and there is a severe labor shortage! Materials prices are skyrocketing, and people are trying to get things built before the raw materials costs get so crazy no one can afford anything.

I've never seen anything like it! A gal who works for me just bought a house. She made an offer on the house for the asking price (no one does this!). Realtor called her back 2 hours later and said he had (4) offers since her offer, all of them higher, and the lowest one was the asking price + $40,000!! **astonished look, jaw agape!!** Buyers are literally outbidding each other, at way over market prices! The house she was making the offer on was an older home, appraised at $150k...owner was asking $350k. House went under contract for $398k!! It's absolutely insane!

I called our realtor friend and asked him if this was the same everywhere. He confirmed it; nothing is selling for asking price. Said plan to offer 110% to 120% for anything under 3,000 sq. ft. and upwards of 140% to 150% for anything over 3,000 sq. ft. **THUD!!!**

Publications say it's slowing down somewhat, but I don't know. Our realtor characterized the cool down like this, he said..."Yeah, the market has cooled down from supernova status to red hot molten lava status! I haven't written an order for less than the asking price on a home in two years, all over asking price." Said he had one house that the owner's were asking $350 for and by the end of the day he had (3) offers over $770k...in a single day! The demand so far outstrips the supply it's just staggering. I can't even begin to imagine what this place would be worth today!

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Jeezus...everyone in America has $600 in their accounts...don't they?

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
Jeezus...everyone in America has $600 in their accounts...don't they?

Yup, even small childrenses.

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
If your kid can swing a hammer, have him come to Colorado. If you put him on the 8am UA flight to Denver, he'll have a full-time job paying $25-30/hour before lunchtime! Seriously. He'll get 50-60 hours a week in, with no let up.

What is the hourly rate for carrying a ratty hose around the yard?

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
If your kid can swing a hammer, have him come to Colorado. If you put him on the 8am UA flight to Denver, he'll have a full-time job paying $25-30/hour before lunchtime! Seriously. He'll get 50-60 hours a week in, with no let up.

What is the hourly rate for carrying a ratty hose around the yard?

Pretty sure FCD doesn’t want you anywhere near his hose.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus


Funny how they never think to shut down the offshore BS. Too many poli's with accounts in Panama me thinks......skimming off those foreign aid dollars.

originally posted by: lakenheath24
Funny how they never think to shut down the offshore BS. Too many poli's with accounts in Panama me thinks......skimming off those foreign aid dollars.

Why would a person getting fat on legal insider trading want their offshore tax haven transactions revealed?

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

A Wendy's near my old house has a sign on the front door that the dining room is closed due to a staff shortage. Pretty weird.
Where are all the people indeed? They can't all be staying home.

originally posted by: chris_stibrany
a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

A Wendy's near my old house has a sign on the front door that the dining room is closed due to a staff shortage. Pretty weird.
Where are all the people indeed? They can't all be staying home.

Was out shopping with my Mom on Tuesday. Even she noticed that every business we entered, had a sign saying they were hiring. One of the stores we went in, you could tell that at least two of the workers were new and in orientation.

Seems a bit strange, because there are actually less customers than before COVID. But using the neighborhood youngsters as a clue, many of those that worked during COVID, have moved on to more skilled and better paying jobs. This has made an increased need for first level, low skilled job opportunities.

I still have no solid explanation for the shortage of drivers. I have a family member that works in distribution. Mainly his job is to organize the routing and distribution of merchandise from point A to point B. He works with companies that do the transporting, and they are reporting that on many occasions, they just don't have enough drivers to get the job done.

So I don't know what is going on, but I don't believe it has much to do with people not working because they are too lazy to work. That is not what I am seeing in my neck of the woods. I think we are not seeing the whole picture. I don't think they want us to see the whole picture.

a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn

I joked in another thread that a lot of people must have gotten adducted and shipped off-world to the secret space programme etc

a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn

I just wonder if sedentary drivers have been hit hard and died off. How you would hide a high death rate like would be required is beyond me, unless the hospital morgues are having a fast turnover.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus


Cuz deep down they are honest, caring peeps at heart! LMAO