Help Wanted - The good old days

[Crazy Dave]

Remember about 30 years ago when you would drive by a factory, warehouse, construction site, etc. and see a "Help Wanted" sign on the gate?

I remember two places I worked at in Omaha, NE between '82 and '84. I saw the sign, walked in the door and about 15 minutes later I was on a production line and had to fill out the application during my lunch break.

The money wasn't that bad either. $6 - $7 an hour back then which would roughly be about $13 now, just guessing.

[murielm99]

1. I remember the good old days.

The "Help Wanted" newspaper ads were divided into men's and women's jobs. The women's jobs paid considerably less.

And if I had walked into one of those plants and asked for a job, I would have been told that they do not hire women for those jobs. That happened to me once.

[Crazy Dave]

6. That is true

I forgot about that. For married couples it was great, at least in our home and neighborhood. Only one income was needed to buy a home and send the kids to college. The moms stayed home and took care of the kids. My mom went to work for the first time when I got out of high school in '81.

I have many women friends, my age and older who have gone through what you speak of when they were single and raising a family 30 years ago.

Good point to bring up and ad to this discussion :hi:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. except that pay rates have not increased to keep up with inflation --

I would think those jobs would only pay about $8.50 per hour today --- If one could even see a Help Wanted sign these days..................

[Crazy Dave]

4. In my town...

There would be 200 plus people lined up outside the gate.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. I hate to think how many people would be lined up in my town -- probably 2000

I live in one of the highest unemployment areas in the nation.

[jtuck004]

8. And another 500 lined up around the world for a lot of them. n/t

[griffi94]

3. you have better memories of 82 thru 84 than i have

i remember not being able to buy a job.

[Crazy Dave]

7. It's that way now

My neighbor owns a restaurant and he has people with BS degrees applying for jobs that he posts on craiglist.

He told me last week that he was looking for a waitress and some kitchen help and within three hours of posting the ad had over 50 emails. Everyone from ex-military, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, various college grads and laid-off school teachers.

[Art_from_Ark]

9. Yup, the Reagan Recession

A lot of us were "living in Allentown".