We arrived in Brunswick GA last night in a downpour. I had hoped to go out looking for fresh seafood or a restaurant with the word Tavern in its name. Instead we dined at the hotel restaurant. One of the bartenders was taking a shift as a server. She wasn’t overwhelmed. Nor was the bartender or cook. She told us she had been there since 9 months before they opened about 6 months ago. We watched a team meeting in the lobby as we headed to breakfast this morning. Lots of high spirits. We had a conversation with one while we ate. He likes his job. He likes the people he works with. He’s been there a week. I hope he’s still enjoying himself in a year.

Off topic, but this is the first combined Hilton Garden Inn / Home 2 Suites I’ve ever seen - 2 different wings of the same building.

It's such a high turnover industry. While lots of people either changed jobs/industries or just stayed home, they were going to be replaced one way or another eventually. Just a massive catch up now, and the new people always start with clear minds. Most of them will grow tired of the work too I'm sure. But that rotation is what gets young people entry into the job market and keeps the costs reasonable for customers. I'd guess we'll see a higher-than-usual "I've been here for 2 weeks" for the next year or so.

Those combined hotels are so odd. Perhaps the strangest I've seen is in Peoria, IL. There's a Marriott (may be a Ren) in a historic building, attached to a Courtyard. Literally two different lobbies that are open to one another. One is old wood, nice furniture, and a lovely bar. The other is a run-down CY lobby. You can sit on a couch with a bourbon in one and watch people check in to the other. Of course, the real down-side to both hotels is that if you walk out the door, you're in Peoria.

Looks like those who have been working low-pay jobs are moving. Friend has a son who graduated high school this year and was working in some beverage joint. Not going for tertiary education and decided that beverage job wasn't worth it (one trigger was his boss calling him to ask why he didn't show up for work - reason: mandated self-isolation because coworker tested positive for COVID). Did some research and looks like bar tending may be his gig. Started as a bar back (preps all the stuff for the bar tender) and on his 1st weekend (2 weekend night shifts) made more money than his mother does teaching a community college course and has no prep or out-of-class work to do either.

a nice result of research - keep us posted if his wages stay consistent! Very ace. And a bad sign of how poorly teachers are paid… UGH

Good story/example. It does seem like a lot of people took advantage of the last 18 months to re-assess and move to the next step faster than they normally would have. It's normal movement, just speeded up. It's definitely a part of the overall explanation of why entry-level jobs are lacking workers right now. And to your last point, there's a debate going on in our community forum right now about tipping for appliance delivery. One side says tip between $20-$50 per person, with the reasons being they work hard and don't make much money. The other side points out that they make between $75k-$125k in our area, which is more than many jobs that work hard and don't receive tips - even many college degree jobs like an accountant. Not to get off topic, I wonder if people are starting to realize how much trade jobs pay and investing a year in trade school rather than working as a server to save for college. A friend's son decided to go to welding school instead of college recently because of the demand and pay for welders -- he's likely one of those people who would have filled a server or retail job during the summer or even during the school year.

From the onset, for my money, I think what you've posited is the most likely scenario to explain what's been happening.

As with most Americans, I grew up and appreciate our unique tipping culture. However, I have begun to assess my views over the years, if only because people should change when our times do. In SF, we have a relatively high restaurant minimum wage ($15 per hours?) and another +/- 5% charge for healthcare added to the bill. While I've not taken that into consideration during the pandemic, I will most certainly reduce my tipping in SF when things return to normal.

While education is of course important, there are just some who would be better served taking a different path. While it's been some time since my university days, I still vividly recall discussing with my friends on how certain majors could possibly expect anyone to pay them for whatever it is they were learning, which, I'd imagine, has only gotten worse.

I'm a relatively new resident on Maui and the restaurant worker shortage has normalized a bit. Mainly, the restaurants have slowed due to seasonal slow-down (Hawaii tourism always drops after school starts until Thanksgiving or so) and our governor telling everyone to stay away because of the lingering Covid. There's still a decent need for staff but it's not quite as crazy as it was a few months ago.

After an 18-year hiatus I recently jumped back into bartending to make a few bucks and occupy some time while getting my company moved from the mainland over here. I had to apply to a few places before landing something but it was far from difficult. And one week in I was able to get pretty much the exact schedule I wanted - 4 night shifts.

In a Jersey Mike’s a week ago with one employee almost in tears. The online order pickup was more than a dozen deep with people waiting and about the same number of people waiting to place orders in person. Some of the online orders were office runs. The store was not short staffed just overwhelmed.

Might be a sign of how much (some) people will pay for drinks. The fancy cocktail bars on nickel 'n dime cruise line ships (usually not included in beverage packages) can be packed. I imagine it's the same in urban bars with aspiring if not upscale clientale.

As for educators, poorly paid when not unionized (and in some places, even then). Reminds me of what I've read about arts professors at U.S. colleges and universities. Much lower pay scale than business professors (less than half the latter's pay).

Same where I am. A friend came to visit us and before that visit some former colleagues who are in the process of repatriating from the U.S. They went to order (no online, or internet) from this pizza joint that I was surprised to find in what is seemingly in the middle of nowhere with nothing around. They had to wait in line 1/2 hr to order only to be told it was 1 1/2 hrs before the pizzas would be ready (and it'd be 20-30 mins drive to the next closest pizza joint).

I'd agree. I think a great many would do better going to trade school than getting (hopefully) some college degree with poor job prospects. Even 4 years ago, I had a brief discussion with the manager/owner of a HVAC service business who told me he had to advertise nationally for technicians. Joke here is that they were (and still are) not only hiring anyone who can swing a hammer straight, but anyone who can swing one kind of straight. Some trades jobs wear out the body faster than others though, but also some
moderate life long physical activity might be good.

Sounds like a good case for students to pursue a career in business as opposed to art. Don't get me wrong... I love art. But it's tough to pay the bills with it.

Should have added or specified liberal arts. All the essentially same though. The U.S. is awashed with liberal arts majors. I always liked Garrison Keilor's musings about being an English major.

Most of the country is in desperate need of tradespeople and has been for many years. 20-30 years ago high schools started suggesting/insisting that EVERYONE should go to college and get a degree. Industrial arts classes were cut back or eliminated at most high schools. This is the result. I'm currently 1 month in on a 15 month wait to get a new roof on my house. I recently waited 10 weeks to get a head gasket replaced on a diesel pickup by a competent shop. It goes on and on. In most of CA, it's normal for halfway smart construction tradesmen to make $125K/yr or more. In many areas, Electricians, plumbers, HVAC, and others are making $80-110/Hr + benefits, and people are waiting weeks or months for their services. It's a crying shame more young people don't take advantage.

Meanwhile, virtually every restaurant and bar in Northern CA is still short staffed to the point they have reduced hours/days, capacity limits, long wait times, and even have to close suddenly for a day or more if staff doesn't show up. Many have signs posted asking customers to be patient due to staffing shortages. On the plus side, it looks like maybe, finally, staffing is starting to increase, barely. I hope we have turned the corner.

For the last 20+ years I've been owning/running a mid-size home inspection company (+/- a half dozen employees) and working in the field most days with prospective homebuyers. The lack of real-world skills that homebuyers today possess is staggering. They literally don't know the difference between a water heater and an electric panel. Good or bad the "dot-com" age has produced a workforce of people completely out of touch with the reality of what provides their basic needs. I've often joked (not really a joke I know) that if there were real chaos and these "kids" had to go provide for themselves in "the wild", most would get eaten before it got dark. I'm not saying everyone needs to be a hunter/survivalist but some basic skills and understanding of how a house works would be a good start.

Bringing it back to the recent posts and higher education, as you point out there is A LOT of money to made in the trades. And not just performing the trade. Owning/managing a trade company is quite lucrative. Certainly, more money than steaming lattes at Starbucks with a basic college degree. And, bringing it full circle to the topic of the thread, many of the higher end serving/bartending jobs here on Maui at the nicer resorts likely pay more than a median job with a basic college degree. I'm a huge proponent of higher education and encourage my kids to continue on through college. But at the same time I don't fool them into thinking that's all that is out there or that they need to think about.