Wolf Richter of Wolfstreet.com says "The labor market has changed because people got kicked out of a rut and started thinking about priorities, and how to do things differently, and those $10 trillion in monetary and fiscal stimulus are still floating around out there."
Yes, this is all true, but something else has changed. I don't think this accounts for up to half of the "won't work" mentality. I think when many white collars/upper tier service workers were suspended or fired, they embraced the liberal notion that your work. . . needs to be "meaningful." Clue: ALL work is meaningful. You wouldn't have a job if you were not serving others with a product or a service. 4) Educators have failed miserably at explaining the nature of work, WHICH IS NOT PLAY.
Indeed, the very Biblical nature of work is as something that is not fun. Yes, there are a tiny few individuals (Rush Limbaugh comes to mind) whose work was his "play." 6) But most of the time, what people need most from you will not be the thing you most love to do.
In part, that's why it's called SERVICE. "How may I serve you today?" is the essential question of capitalism. If you are not SERVING someone else, you have contributed nothing to the world. 8) Contrary to "social justice" fecalsmears, SERVICE means doing something for someone else that they want or need, not what YOU want to give them. (Think Hunter Biteme's paintings). So we have far, far too many people not being employed because, like "Cousin Eddie" in "Christmas Vacation," they are "holding out for a management position."
This of course implies "less work." There is a second aspect of this "meaningful" stuff, which is class/social stratus aspects. Quite simply, anymore virtually no one will go to a party, no matter how well off, & brag about being a plumber or an electrician.
None of us could get by without such skilled people. Most betamale soysnogglers couldn't even change a tire, much less repair an engine--even of an older car that wasn't as wired up as the Queen of the Borg.
In fact, it was probably 40 years ago when I last heard someone talk confidently about the fact he owned a garbage collection business. Job-snobbery is utterly ascendent today. As much as anything, this is what is holding people back from employment.
We have a generation who not only demand a job be indoors, with no heavy lifting, where they do not sweat (unless in the fitness training industry), with high pay, interaction with their social equals, & high on the status chain.
Good luck, ya little Mil-tweakers. You just described about 5% of all the positions in 'Merica. Instead, how about quality control engineer in a meatpacking or poultry plant? Sales rep for a manure business? Landscaper. No, not just the illegals who install ut the guys who push the wheelbarrows, dig up the dead roses, fight their way through an Ocotillo cactus removal, & along the way clean out birds' nests & defeat racoons!
You want a job? You can get one tomorrow. And chances are, if you work hard, taking the job seriously, in six months you'll be a manager; in 2 years a district manager. That's how desperate companies are for people who actually WORK.
Unfortunately, most are like the secretary "Stella" in the Martin Mull movie "Serial," one of my all time favorites. He is a mid-level exec at Wells Fargo in San Fran. He is interviewing a new secretary, when Stella, a very sexy well-dressed young woman walks in.
Mull's character, Harvey Holroyd asks, "So, . . . (looks at resume) dictation, 80 words a minute, typing . . . 60 . . words . . a . . ." He slaps down the resume. "You know Stella I like you but doggone it this job requires SKILLS." "I've got all these other girls to interview," he concludes.
Stella leans over his desk, displaying as much cleavage as she can, & in a sultry voice says "So . . . hire one of them."
A pained Harvey watches her figure as she turns to leave.
"You know, Stella," says Harvey, "I seldom SPEAK more than 60 words a minute." 25) She smiles, sits down at the secretary's desk and and says, "All right. "When's lunch?" 26) Harvey just smiles knowing he's been had.
And as of today, that's America's employers.
Larry Schweikart
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Job: do what they want, hobby: do what I love
Well spake. practical, common sense