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A shortage occurs when the buyer (in the case of labour, the employer) is prevented from paying more. While there are certain labour segments, healthcare in par
by randomdata 4y ago
A shortage occurs when the buyer (in the case of labour, the employer) is prevented from paying more. While there are certain labour segments, healthcare in particular, where government often prevents buyers from paying more, there is no real constraint on the general labour pool in this regard.
This means that the only reason there is a shortage is because labour is choosing to not charge higher rates for their work. When the media/government states that there is a labour shortage they are saying: "Hey workers, charge more already!" If that's not pro-labour, I don't know what is.
- pseudo0 4y agoThis isn't how governments or corporations define a labor shortage. Their working definition appears to be "businesses can't find workers at the (low) price point they previously could." This is typically then used as justification for undermining workers through increased immigration rates, temporary foreign worker programs, raising the retirement age, and other policy interventions that benefit the shareholding class over workers.
- randomdata 4y agoThat's not how anyone else defines shortage, though. It literally contradicts the meaning of shortage. So, when the message is spread to the people they are going to take from it that they aren't charging enough, even if that wasn't the original intent of the message. And, indeed, claims of a labour shortage do end up met with higher labour prices.