The people that run the cranes at those ports make well over 100k, why would they quit those jobs?
Baby boomers are hitting retirement age in very high numbers right now—it is one factor—and fear of Covid was enough to convince many undecideds it was time to bail.
Those retirements normally could have been spread out over a decade so the impact would have been less noticeable.
Union. Already past retirement age but still working as a crane operator for the ridiculous wages. Retired when California went nuts over covid.
I know 1 that knows another.