You echo my thoughts exactly. But, bear in mind the Uncle Sugar unemployment really just ended a week or two ago. It might take another couple of weeks for folks to feel the pain and realize that even Sleepy Joe and the Dims aren’t going to reinstate this. So I think many will begin to take gainful employment.
And I question how many are in fear. I had a convo with a person at my company (but in another city) today. We are supposed to begin returning to our offices next month. It’s a “once more - with feeling” kind of thing, since they tried it this summer, but then turned up a couple of positive covid tests, and most likely some whiney staff. So they stopped it. But this gal I talked to is still very afraid!!!
I have to wonder if there’s not some drama queening going on.
It’s more than unemployment. Yes we see a LITTLE increase in employment in states where unemployment bennies are lifted, but not a lot.
a) Demographic trends are not good. Low birth/marriage rates in EVERY country in the world, yes, including China (US is now, or will be in 2 years, YOUNGER than China);
b) a China Virus lockdown mindset/fear that convinced people to stay at home
c) I’m wondering if some (many?) of these jobs weren’t second jobs? Wouldn’t change the fact that people have MORE bills to pay with inflation, but still, it does require a higher work ethic to do a second job;
d) constant propaganda about “meaningful work” which is ridiculous. The definition of WORK is the opposite of PLAY.