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I believe the hospitality industry is in even worse shape. I just got back from a resort in the US that was probably the worst trip I've ever had. It was high

I believe the hospitality industry is in even worse shape. I just got back from a resort in the US that was probably the worst trip I've ever had. It was high season, so prices were insanely higher than the rest of the year. But every single section of the hotel (housekeeping, engineering, front desk) and F&B (servers, bartenders, bus staff) was insanely understaffed. People were frustrated and downright angry at the staff and, eventually, at each other. We're at this tipping where something has to give. We're at or nearly at full employment and everyone is happy to spend money again...but wages won't budge. I could also talk about other sectors like retail. Have you been in a Target or Wal-Mart lately? Even stores like Target, which are usually immaculate and fully stocked all the time have large empty spaces on the shelves and entire classes of items are short or missing. Where do we go from here?

iso1337 8y ago
Some ideas: European style: Higher prices, shorter hours. Japanese style: more automation, vending machines for everything. Anecdotally, I haven’t seen those issues you mention with retail. Fundamentally the problem is that the price people are willing to pay won’t support the required number of people at such “high” wages. Either the price has to go up or the experience has to become cheaper. Or you just fly overseas to Mexico and enjoy much cheaper labor at Cancun or Cabos. Every time I look at resorts in Hawaii I conclude that I should just go to Mexico instead.
- tonyedgecombe 8y ago
  You should just open the border with Mexico :)
beerlord 8y ago
Cut social security taxes and give workers an immediate 12.4% pay increase. Cut all unemployment benefits and phase out aged welfare. This will reward work, and discourage unemployment, solving the labour shortage.
- brokenmachine 8y ago
  And we can produce soylent green with the useless unemployed and aged!! /s

iso1337 8y ago

Some ideas: European style: Higher prices, shorter hours. Japanese style: more automation, vending machines for everything. Anecdotally, I haven’t seen those issues you mention with retail. Fundamentally the problem is that the price people are willing to pay won’t support the required number of people at such “high” wages. Either the price has to go up or the experience has to become cheaper. Or you just fly overseas to Mexico and enjoy much cheaper labor at Cancun or Cabos. Every time I look at resorts in Hawaii I conclude that I should just go to Mexico instead.

tonyedgecombe 8y ago
You should just open the border with Mexico :)

beerlord 8y ago

Cut social security taxes and give workers an immediate 12.4% pay increase. Cut all unemployment benefits and phase out aged welfare. This will reward work, and discourage unemployment, solving the labour shortage.

brokenmachine 8y ago
And we can produce soylent green with the useless unemployed and aged!! /s