General Discussion

ProfessorGAC

(77,308 posts)

26. Forget For A Moment, The New UE Numbers

Thu May 21, 2020, 06:34 PM

May 2020

Go back 4 months, and see the total unemployment numbers, including long term unemployed.
We were at the 4th best numbers since 1930.
There aren't enough unemployed people to backfill the 5th day.
There are now, of course, but I don't see it viable.
Companies either can't or won't increase their labor costs by 25%. The option being all those 5 day workers go to 4 days take a 20% cut. Good luck with getting cooperation in today's "want it now" culture.
Companies won't eat the 25%, workers wouldn't take the 20% cut, likely won't agree on 12.5% & 10% mid point, and we'd run out of job seekers.
The nonessential businesses are going to open eventually. A fairly high (certainly not all) percent of those jobs will be refilled.
UE will be higher than before, but there still won't be enough capable employees.
It's why UBI is such a worthy goal.
It boosts from the bottom without crowding the job opportunities.

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The four day work week under consideration in New Zealand. Why not here? [View all] Alex4Martinez May 2020 OP

republican SCUM sfstaxprep May 2020 #1

I missed where she said for there to be a 20% cut in hours. Igel May 2020 #2

She's talking about a 30 hour work week at the same level of pay meadowlander May 2020 #14

We can't even get help for people during a fucking pandemic JI7 May 2020 #3

I sometimes do four nights Skittles May 2020 #4

My dentist and his staff work 4 ten hour days Thomas Hurt May 2020 #5

Here we have the 7 day a week, two job, work week. sarcasmo May 2020 #6

Sad but true tulipsandroses May 2020 #9

Because I've normally got, well, work to do GulfCoast66 May 2020 #7

Standard here is six weeks paid vacation DFW May 2020 #11

I only get so much for 2 reasons. GulfCoast66 May 2020 #24

I agree with that completely DFW May 2020 #25

You work 7 days a week? Nt USALiberal May 2020 #18

Funny, maybe we're brainwashed into thinking long hours are so very important. Alex4Martinez May 2020 #8

"Including part-time workers" DFW May 2020 #12

That would be awesome. The one thing I miss about working in the hospital is my 3 day work week tulipsandroses May 2020 #10

Very sane idea whose time has come. smirkymonkey May 2020 #13

The carpenters union had "Black Fridays" to keep everyone employed. Alex4Martinez May 2020 #15

I think it would be a good idea for a number of reasons, many of which would benefit smirkymonkey May 2020 #16

Thanks! Of course, no cut in pay is required for this to work, we just need to tax wealth. Alex4Martinez May 2020 #19

I did that for years... Wounded Bear May 2020 #17

Because this country's relationship to work is broken. WhiskeyGrinder May 2020 #20

We were meant to work 4 days IMO Johnny2X2X May 2020 #21

Exactly, thank you! Alex4Martinez May 2020 #22

It's been know for decades Johnny2X2X May 2020 #23

Forget For A Moment, The New UE Numbers ProfessorGAC May 2020 #26