I haven't read all 32 pages of this thread but I'd like to say Labor is a commodity which follows the laws of supply and demand. When the labor pool is low, wages go up. When the labor pool is high, wages go down.

 

I live it everyday. Back in 2008 when the economy was in free fall and millions were getting laid off, I could put an ad out to fill a job which would elicit over 30 responses overnight. I put an ad out last Thursday and received 8. Now, if I want to get more responses I would need to raise the salary level.

 

Back in the 40's during the war, many companies could not fill jobs due to all the war time production with many men called into war duty, so they started offering pensions, paid vacations, health insurance, dental insurance, etc. to attract workers. In the last 20 years you rarely find companies offering such benefits packages.

 

Regards....................the Chiefjag

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