Business closes down due to shortage of workers

[CalgaryDesi]

Anyone read the Sun yesterday?

There was an article about an Esso gas station that was closed because they couldn't find enough workers (at $10/hr) .

Wow. Alberta boom.

[Bobblehead]

I thought that was just over the Canada weekend?

It was the Esso/Tim Hortons at Memorial & 68th.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

bad news. unemployment at 3% is not a good thing for us.

Which baffles my mind why some ppl still give an excuse that they can't find jobs. I see a lot of beggers with signs saying so, and it makes no sense.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its getting tougher in my end of the industry as there is a disconnect between what companies can pay and what they're willing to pay. The average warehouse job has gone from 10/hour to 14/hour in the span of a year.

Most organizations still work around the old model of hiring people as they come, and then they spend a fortune on the recruiting process only to see the people leaving after a short time.

The most positive thing that a company can do in a tight labour market is to work on thier hiring processes (Better candidates, better hires, fewer replacements), and work on thier retention strategies to avoid the drain of skilled labouers (ext interviews, surveys, evaluation of company/employee relationships).

When a market hits 5% unemployment it means there are more open jobs then qualified people. At 3% usually 50% of those people either don't want to work or have priced themselves out of the market.

Its going to be a tough row for the next 5 years in Alberta.

[Bobblehead]

Actually, my wife is looking for a job. She is/was and Administrative Assistant, but has taken Legal Assistant Certificate at SAIT.

Where should I tell her to start her search. It is obvious there are a lot of jobs, where does a job hunter look to sort out the "wheat from the chaff"?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

At 3% usually 50% of those people either don't want to work or have priced themselves out of the market.

Actually, people who don't want to work aren't counted in employment stats.

For such a low number like 3%, that is considered full employment. The 3% is essentially "friction" - it's people changing jobs, since you're considered unemployed for the time you end your first job and you start your new one (yes, even if you quit on Tuesday and start on Wednesday).

[habernac]

this is only going to worsen as the boomers start retiring. Fort McMurray saw this a few years ago, now you make $20 pumping gas up there.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by CalgaryDesi

Anyone read the Sun yesterday?

There was an article about an Esso gas station that was closed because they couldn't find enough workers (at $10/hr) .

Wow. Alberta boom.

What did they expect. The only people you can really attract for that wage now a days is students looking for summer jobs.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Actually, people who don't want to work aren't counted in employment stats.

For such a low number like 3%, that is considered full employment. The 3% is essentially "friction" - it's people changing jobs, since you're considered unemployed for the time you end your first job and you start your new one (yes, even if you quit on Tuesday and start on Wednesday).

The interesting counter-stat to unemployment is employment participation (the number of people who are eligible to work who actually do work). Alberta is up around 70%, way higher than any other province. It suprised me actually.

[Sample00]

yup, its hard to compete.
In our community, the Tim Hortons went from a 24 hour operation to closing at 8:00PM at night because of no staff.

both tim hortons and macdonald are paying close to $15.00 per hour.

its hard to compete with the oil patch who are offering $75000.00 a year jobs with full benefits and company trucks to start.

I have been looking for staff for 3 months now..cant find anyone that fits the requirements.

[Resolute 14]

This is nothing new. The Burger King and Harveys on MacLeod and 71st have routinely closed either the resteraunt or drive-thru due to a lack of staff for months now. They arent the only ones either.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by CalgaryDesi

Anyone read the Sun yesterday?

There was an article about an Esso gas station that was closed because they couldn't find enough workers (at $10/hr) .

Wow. Alberta boom.

I pumped gas in 1992 and I was paid $7/hr. I think I know why this guy couldn't attract enough workers.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I pumped gas in 1992 and I was paid $7/hr. I think I know why this guy couldn't attract enough workers.

Especially as a starting job. No reason why people shouldn't be taking part time jobs while still in high school, or in University.

[DementedReality]

it makes you wonder, with all these well paying jobs, why people are working for $8/hr.

a guy i know through work told me his girlfriend worked in a medical centre for $8/hr. i didnt say anything, but i am thinking "wtf? how dumb are you if you cant find a job paying more than $8/hr in Calgary".

[Hockeygal_17]

I work in retail. let me tell you something I won't say which company that I work for. we just can't hire the staff to keep the store open. it's getting to the point where the staff that is left there is getting overworked underpaid.

I have never seen anything like this

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

it makes you wonder, with all these well paying jobs, why people are working for $8/hr.

a guy i know through work told me his girlfriend worked in a medical centre for $8/hr. i didnt say anything, but i am thinking "wtf? how dumb are you if you cant find a job paying more than $8/hr in Calgary".

You are joking, right?

In case you aren't, is it possible that the person is working a job for the sake of the experience. Working an $8 /hr job in many cases is just as good as paying to go to school if they are training you on the job. With something like a medical centre, it makes a lot of sense to work that type of job to have it on the resume. If somebody wants to work in the medical field flipping burgers for $12 /hr won't help her very much.

Of course, the other possibility the person likes what she is doing.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by ken0042

You are joking, right?

In case you aren't, is it possible that the person is working a job for the sake of the experience. Working an $8 /hr job in many cases is just as good as paying to go to school if they are training you on the job. With something like a medical centre, it makes a lot of sense to work that type of job to have it on the resume. If somebody wants to work in the medical field flipping burgers for $12 /hr won't help her very much.

Of course, the other possibility the person likes what she is doing.

you might be right, but i doubt this person was of the school "demographics"

i dont even know how people pay the bills on 12/hour, never mind 8.

you dont think you can find "good resume" jobs that pay better than single digits per hour?

[ken0042]

As for paying the bills; it all depends on what bills they have to pay. At $8 /hr you'd have about $1000 per month after taxes. A quick look at lowcostrent.org shows me 2 places in the city for under $400 per month. This number also works for what somebody might pay in a shared accomidation situation. Take off $70 for a bus pass and $230 for food, that still leaves $300 per month left over.

Do I go through more money each month? Hell yes! But it can be done. When I was going to school I made it through earning $6.50 per hour and paying $475 in rent.

And as for good resume jobs, I know of people who do volunteer work just for the sake of having it on the resume.

[HOOT]

People who are jobless is Calgary are bums and are worthless to the Earth...

I did up my buddies resume one time and put at the bottom as Hobbies and Interests

- Jerking off
- Getting stoned and playing Video games
- Being a homo

And he still got offered THREE jobs he got to pick from....just amazing how easy it is.

I can understand if you are going to school...but they shouldn't even offer EI in Alberta because it is sooooooooo easy!

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

you might be right, but i doubt this person was of the school "demographics"

i dont even know how people pay the bills on 12/hour, never mind 8.

you dont think you can find "good resume" jobs that pay better than single digits per hour?

Man, I wish I got paid an hourly wage of 12/hour. They couldn't afford me if I wasn't on this lame ass salary.

Edit: Come to think of it, I'm going to go petition for a cost of living increase. This is getting out of control.