Falta mão de obra?

Sim, eu sei que a emigração rouba mão-de-obra.

Sim, eu sei que existe imigração.

Sim, eu sei que existe competição entre sectores económicos.

Julgo que este artigo ajuda a ilustrar o que se pode estar a passar, da próxima vez que ouvirem empregadores a dizer que falta mão de obra:

"Carolina Reyes was surprised when she heard that an assistant teacher at her child care center in suburban Maryland was quitting for a job cleaning high school classrooms. The hours — 6 p.m. to midnight — seemed crummy. And the work hardly seemed more satisfying.

But then Reyes, who owns the center, heard about the salary — $24 per hour, compared with the $15 she was able to offer.

The worker was only one of several Reyes lost recently — part of a national exodus from the child care profession. The shortage is contributing to a crisis for parents, as child care providers close their doors or limit enrollment in response to a labor market in which they cannot compete.

There are 100,000 fewer child care workers than there were before the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even as private-sector employment fully rebounded over the summer from the job losses caused by COVID-19, the child care sector shrank and was 9.7% smaller last month than it was in February 2020, federal data shows.

Program directors point to a few explanations for the shortage: competition from other sectors, as well as regulations — including license requirements, vaccine and masking rules — that could dim the enthusiasm of some job candidates.

The typical American child care worker earns about $13 per hour, and many earn just above minimum wage. Last year, 29% were so poor that they experienced food insecurity, according to a survey conducted by researchers at the University of Oregon.

Positions stocking shelves at Target, ringing up groceries at Trader Joe’s, and packing and loading boxes at Amazon warehouses now often pay more than jobs in child care programs in many parts of the country. Working at a nail salon or managing pharmacy benefits over the phone can also lead to higher earnings."

Se falta mão de obra é porque há quem pague mais por ela. Se não dá para pagar por ela, talvez seja uma mensagem do mercado a dizer que o negócio não tem pernas para andar, talvez seja de desviar os recursos para outro empreendimento.

Trecho retirado de "Why You Can't Find Child Care: 100,000 Workers Are Missing" do New Yor Times