I'm seeing a lot of "Help Wanted" signs in my

[MineralMan]

Twin Cities suburb. I see them at retail stores, at restaurants, and at other businesses. There's a big one at the local Arby's. It's advertising pay, starting at $17 per hour. Seems like everyone's looking for workers, and they're increasing their pay, because the demand is higher than the supply.

We have a large number of businesses where I live. It's a very active shopping area, and just about everyone is looking for people to fill jobs. And that's accomplishing the goal of better pay for workers, since they're not seeing a stream of applicants. It's something I haven't seen for a while, and I see it as a positive thing, all around, really.

[LizBeth]

1. All over the place and I still here people blame it on giving too much to unemployeed

that ended Sept 5.

[MineralMan]

3. Yeah, no. It's COVID-19.

All of those jobs being offered are customer-facing, and that's kind of a dangerous job these days, isn't it.

It has nothing to do with extra unemployment payments. That's a right-wing meme. It has to do with people working in hazardous conditions, thanks to those right-wingers who refuse to get vaccinated and refuse to wear masks.

[LizBeth]

21. Kinda, duh. Lol. I hope you are not thinking that I agree with what was said.

I mean, I did say it is what is being said. Having been one on the unemployment and one working in hospitality being threatened for minimum wage and refusing to go back into that environment, and not being stupid, I get that.

[BlueJac]

2. Yes, same here!

Better pay is a good thing!

[MineralMan]

5. Yes, it is a good thing.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Lots of teaser rates for experienced and overnight workers

The bait and switch happens later. They make sure to test and hire before pay is discussed.

[MineralMan]

6. Not really.

A lot of those places are hiring entry level employees. They can't get them, so they have to pay more.

I mean, working at Arby's isn't a highly-skilled job at all. That's the starting pay they're offering.

[druidity33]

23. "That's the starting pay they're offering."...

according to their own advertising and signage? Might try and talk to a couple of workers at your local Arby's. It is true that the hiring rates have been raised. I work in a union grocery store in MA. Min wage in the state is currently 13.50... to go to 14.25 in the new year and 15 in 2023. My store is currently hiring at 15 an hour. But we'll pay up to 23 for a good baker or cook supervisor. Cost of living is pretty high here but not Boston or city high. I got hired 10 years ago at 11.25 an hour. It is entirely possible stores in your area are hiring at the rates you are claiming. But if you're basing that on just what the stores themselves are saying... i'm not sure how accurate it is going to be.

[MineralMan]

24. Yeah, it's their sign on their building here.

Pretty stupid of them if that's not the actual pay. It's a big sign on the outside of the store. Anyone applying will expect that, or they'll probably walk out.

What your grocery store in MA pays is pretty irrelevant to an Arby's in my suburb, I'd think. That's what the sign said. In big numbers. I think they really need workers. I don't eat at Arby's. I don't eat fast food of any kind.

[Diamond_Dog]

7. I see them all over the place here, too.

Employers are having a tough time filling jobs everywhere. Most of the jobs are in retail, restaurants, factories, and outdoor work like construction and landscaping.

And I’m still hearing “people are too lazy to work”.

[totodeinhere]

9. Yes there are a lot of openings for low paying jobs.

But who can live on $17 dollars an hour in this day and age? I certainly could not. If those low wage employers want to fill their vacancies they need to pay a decent living wage.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. Yep.

[MineralMan]

12. Well, it beats the hell out of $7.25 per hour, doesn't it?

It's all relative, really. Recently, school bus drivers in the Twin Cities got about $17 per hour. Now, they're advertising $20-25 per hour to start, with paid training for people who don't have the required driver's license.

When there aren't enough workers, pay goes up until workers show up. That's the way it works. People are less willing to work at customer-facing jobs, due to Covid-19, so pay is going up to entice people in to apply for available jobs.

Remember when the call was for a $15 minimum wage? Wasn't that long ago, as I remember.

[MineralMan]

25. Yes, of course it is. Really, if you need employees to stay open,

you're going to pay what you have to pay, or you're going to close, right?

You can't run a restaurant without workers, I'm thinking.

[totodeinhere]

26. Obviously it's better than 7.25. But it still isn't good enough.

Could you live on $17 hourly? I doubt it.

[MineralMan]

27. If you're working a 40 hour week at that wage, you're getting

$2720 per month. $32670 per year. Gross, of course. That's actually not terrible as a starting wage. Can you live on it? Yes. Can you raise a family on it? No. But it's not really crappy pay for someone who is single and young. A couple, both working at that wage, however, could. They'd be at median household income around here.

I mean, it's a job at Arby's. Not a career job.

[totodeinhere]

28. Where I live a decent one bedroom apartment costs $2000 and up and it continues to increase.

$2730 monthly would not cut it. I think we need to stop making excuses for greedy employers who refuse to pay a living wage.

[MineralMan]

29. I don't know about you, but when I was single, I generally had a roommate.

A couple of times, I had a small studio apartment by myself, but mostly I shared spaces.

A lot of folks are still doing that, I think.

[TheRealNorth]

11. Probably a lot of factors....

Less undocumented workers, baby boomers retiring (perhaps in part to Covid), and that 190,000 of the Covid deaths occurred in people under age 65.

Plus, I imagine if you are a shit boss, workers are going to leave, regardless of what you pay them.

[MineralMan]

14. No doubt, but the bottom line is that not enough people are

applying for the available jobs, so wages are rising.

[FSogol]

13. If only there wasn't a large group of immigrants on our southern border hoping for a chance

to take those jobs. Think how the economy would be growing if all those jobs were filled?

Those jobs aren't filled because immigration has been slowed in this country since Bush/Cheney.

[MineralMan]

15. That's part of it, for sure.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made some types of low-paid work more dangerous than before. That's another factor. Plus, a shortage of workers in other, better-paying jobs is also playing a role. It's hard to hire someone to work in your back room, doing stocking and warehouse work, for low wages, when Amazon is paying $17/hour to start for the same kind of job - with benefits.

[blueinredohio]

16. Around my area fast food places are only paying

$12 or $13 dollars an hour. Today at our local Wal-Mart lots of jobs posted at $14-$16 an hour.

[Wounded Bear]

17. Western Washington here. Seeing a lot of the same...

[Johnny2X2X]

18. This is the greatest job market for low wage workers in history

The pressure to raise wages at the bottom has never been greater. We're seeing real wage growth. Companies are offering more money, bonuses, and better benefits. Take advantage while it lasts.

[mcar]

22. It's been going on in my rural Red FL county

for some time. I'm seeing offered hourly pay slowly tick up as well.