Where is everyone?
In anon's part of the midwest, plenty of Help Wanted signs, plenty of evidence of not enough workers (early closings, short-staff, signing bonuses, etc.) Have watched the obits, nothing that out of the ordinary, a few suspect 'died unexpectedly' in the list, but no huge numbers. Unemployment benefits, and COVID stimulus are no longer given. Are there other payments that are allowing people to stay at home? Rent and mortgage payments are now expected, but it seems that the labor force is just no longer there. They could not have all been arrested…and there are plenty of illegals that could be doing those jobs. Still, a definite labor shortage.