Local businesses cannot find enough workers. Some factories and temp agencies are putting out yard signs and bandit signs on poles.

The car wash has a big sign touting $11/hr. Lowes, Menards, WalMart, Sams...all have up signs.

MacDonalds just put up a big sign ‘Hiring age 14 and up’.

I know we’re having the same problem finding workers and we pay more. There are more jobs than people willing or capable of working. Our unemployment rate is super low.

I think we’ve hit the end point. Folks are either a worker or a non-worker.

It’s not just handouts. MANY can barely write their name let alone complete a readable application. Many of the service workers are so large with knee problems they can barely waddle to the cash register. (Not making fun. My heart goes out to them.) Count change? Communicate over the radio for a price check? Even many working a physically and mentally challenged to handle basic employment.

All that said, I wonder where this will lead our rental biz?

Handicap equipped homes as standard? Oversized toilets? Simplified transactions?

Robots will soon fill those jobs. How will WE ise robots with rentals?

BRAD

Fancy you should mention oversize toilets. Last couple years, I've had to replace several floors under them. Seems the tenant base is getting larger than ever and when the 350+pounders use them it literally dears them loose from the wood floors causing leaks and floor failure. It's not just putting on a new wax ring and flange. The floor is torn up as well because they don't report it till it gets really bad. I've gone to just automatically reinforcing the floor joists with double 2x6's and adding bracing from floor to ground level on 4 corners. Anything less seems to just getting torn loose again within a few weeks.

Got to make sure to inspect for loose toilets on a regular basis.

Getting homes cleaned at turnover is different game nowadays, and a game that currently I am not playing well.

It's quite a shame that so many in the political system think that it is perfectly fine to put 25 percent of the population on the govt dole. I wonder why their is not enough workers?

And it was several years ago (and seemed to coincide with protecting illegal immigrant labor) that kids were not allowed to work jobs such as picking crops nor most other jobs (that previously gave so many of us the work ethic to be successful in our lives).

Hmm...now the kids who grew up with that now have zero work ethic, can't seem to understand or do anything, and are fat as butterballs and ready to fall through floors (but they're quite good with texting and video games).

But hey, at least we protected the kids from having to work those menial jobs.

Hi Brad 20K,

Finding workers for some companies is also harder because of the opioid epidemic. I always remember hearing our mayor elect at the time (a few years back)saying that a certain company was looking to hire and train new workers but no one could pass the drug test. The company was looking to hire 80 people. Immigration reform especially if you can speak the language? More on the job training plus how to "act right" (soft skills) in a working environment towards customers and fellow coworkers.

Yep, this is the "new normal".

Ever see the movie Wall-E? I think the only thing they go wrong was it took Earthlings hundreds of years to go from fit and functional to flabby and fruitless. We're already rapidly approaching it.

From the CDC:

"Percent of adults aged 20 and over with obesity: 37.9%

Percent of adults aged 20 and over with overweight, including obesity: 70.7%

Percent of adolescents aged 12-19 years with obesity: 20.6%

Percent of children aged 6-11 years with obesity: 17.4%

Percent of children aged 2-5 years with obesity: 9.4%

So basically 7 in 10 adults are overweight and 4 in 10 are dangerously overweight to the point it's killing them and/or severely affecting quality of life. Kids are on track to emulate their parents.

On the bright side, I'm now down to less than I weighed in college. I've learned that weight is lost in the kitchen, not the gym. 1,800 calories per day is causing a gentle, sustainable loss of 1-2 lbs per week. And yes, I still drink beer.

Missouri has allowed 14 yr kids to work for years, with the permission of the parents and schools, I remember a time in about 1987-88 when some places were recruiting 14 yr olds. Drives me nuts the people who WON’T even try to work.

That said, my next new construction project is in the design phase. All doors will be at least 36 inches. Extra room in the bathroom. Build on a concrete slab. Planning for those heavyweight toilets where needed.

When I was 14 I mowed 5-6 lawns weekly and cleaned boats for money.

Like anything else, we need to change with the times. Those who are willing and have a vision will be ok. I have my vision and choose not to share it. Everyone's vision will be different.

Brad, I think you need to buy one of each of these and give us a report.

factordaily.com/endless-robotics-walt-robot-paint/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVWayhNpHr0

futurism.com/robots-real-estate/

You may want to consider hiring NE of PA's 5 year old son. The son will need the money to help pay for the extra increase in rent for overage on the electric usage.