Reporter writing about labor shortages

[AdamStone]

I am a reporter with USA TODAY writing about agricultural labor shortrages. I'd like to talk to farmers about the shortages they experience and how they deal with them. Please reply to adam.stone@newsroom42.com

[Kay/NC]

It is a real paradox that our nation suffers record unemployment, which many of us looking for good help simply cannot find it at any price. Our last hir was out of a " welfare to work" program, and he is a nice young man...but it was a revolving door here for a while.

[buckfarmer]

People think I'm crazy for paying my one employee what I do. PM me if you want details. Not sure what I'm going to do when he graduates and gets a "real job". I'd like to find a retired guy willing to help during planting and harvest. Usually durring the busy times I just work really long hours.

[Husker-J]

I hear that again, and again.   There are plenty of people looking for a job, but it seems hard to find someone  who is qualified and willing to work (or even just responsible, and willing to work).  I know a guy who had a business, that had potential for pretty rapid growth, which would have been viable pretty much forever, but gave it up, because he couldn't find decent, responsible workers.

[Red Steele]

a good clue to how hard it is to find responsible workers is to look at the people that get elected to higher office. The politicians are a reflection of the population.

Seriously, would anyone hire either the Zero or his vice president, the Doofus, to any job in private indudstry?

[Kay/NC]

It is hard for an employer to compete with the many benefits given to nonworking people, for sure. The mindset of earning to achieve a reward, a better life, is largely absent in some places in America.

[kraft-t]

Most people that have difficulty hiring employees, it is because they do not want to compete in the market place. They want to hire an unemployed guy for peanuts that will be the best employee in america.

What they should do is try to hire some one that already has a job. One that is good at what he does and is worthy of top dollar. They want to hire mr. wonderful on a part time basis and pay them minimum wage or less. In other words they have expectations of an arrangement that does not exist.

I would look for the best hired hand in the area and would offer him a better package that he already has. That is the way you hire the exceptional employee that everyone expects.

[kraft-t]

Take your example of politicians. What you are looking at is representives of the district and most incumbants receive reaffirmation from the voting public usually amounting to more than 100 K votes of approval. The people are deciding that their representative deserves another term as does their senator.

You suggesting that they aren't worthy of their job, but you are one voice of many and the vast majority have an opinion that differs with yours.

[Shaggy98]

So what your saying is leave the lazy and unemployed to continue to suck of the free government teet.

[kraft-t]

Don't compete for nonworking people. Hire the best and pay for the best. You expect the unavailable. The highly qualified employee that is unemployed. Hire somebody that already has a job. That is what competing in the market place means. Don't hire and unemployed person with high expectations. Hire someone that is already working and a highly capable one at that.