Illustration by Ian D. Loomis
by DOINA PLOP
Staff Writer
Have you tried getting some quick, drive-through food and ended up being in line for almost an hour? Have you planned a date night at your favorite restaurant to only find out they are closed that day? You are not alone.
“Help wanted” signs seem to be posted everywhere, hourly wages are rising, and signing bonuses are in. Yet, some businesses are forced to close earlier or stay closed on certain days due to a lack of employees. We asked some WCC students about their take on this situation.
Some students want to work but struggle to balance their classes and work schedules. With classes, “It’s a lot to juggle,” said David Ransom, WCC student. “I have been looking for a job, but I don’t have a car yet so this makes it really difficult.”
Other students accomplish the balance of their work and school schedules. Hailey Vandecev, a web design major at WCC, recently started working at a local restaurant. She said the process was easy and quick. “I just went in and asked for an application, then they emailed me and asked to come in for an interview.”
However, among the students who are working, many quit a job for a better-paying one. Currently, the minimum wage in Michigan is $9.65. But, an increasing number of businesses, like the restaurant Vandecev works at, started offering higher wages in the hope of attracting more employees.
“At my job, there are no bonuses and it’s a lot of work for minimum wage,” said Dara Westwalewicz, math and science major at WCC. “A lot of people are leaving because they are getting new jobs. Our boss is looking for more people, but no one wants to work for us.”
RJ Reed, a business major at WCC, had a similar experience at his previous job. “It was always understaffed. It always had people missing. It felt like I was doing a lot for nothing,” said Reed.
Westwalewicz said that she is planning to leave her job and Reed already did. Reed started a new job in May. He enjoys his new job and pay. But he points out that sometimes he still feels like doing too much for the pay.
Even at the new, better-paying workplace, Reed noticed a similar pattern of workers quitting.
“Everybody is looking for workers,” said Vandecev. This certainly makes it easier to quit a job and look for a better one.
Employees leaving their jobs became a movement known nationwide as “The Great Resignation”. With so many jobs available, workers feel more comfortable quitting their jobs to find better ones. This has caused severe labor shortages and disruptions in several industries.
As of August 2021, Michigan’s unemployment rate is 4.7 percent. This places Michigan 24th on the list of states according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nebraska, with 2.2 percent, has the lowest unemployment rate, and Nevada, with 7.7 percent has the highest unemployment rate.
Several factors can contribute to unemployment rates. Some people are still fearful of the COVID-19 virus or have other health-related concerns, some have childcare needs, some rely on unemployment benefits, and others are looking into starting their own businesses.
