Joseph Brusuelas, the chief economist at RSM US LLP, points to a concern that hasn't gotten much airing recently: are there enough people to fill the open positions in the workforce? Here's what he says in a post-report client note:
"With little to no slack left in the economy, the major challenge for both policymakers and firm managers is where will businesses find the workers to meet growing demand in a new economy increasingly organized around science, mathematics and technology in a tightening labor market.
U.S. Adds 200,000 Jobs; Wage Growth Best Since Recession
The Democrats seem to believe the way to fill these jobs in science, mathematics and technology is to bring in more undocumented farm workers and laborers. Why can't the Republicans see the wisdom in this?
You don't need more unskilled workers. You could help Americans fill those roles. There is a push from Jared and Ivanka to assist those who are leaving prison to get their second chance, in the form of training or work prospects. Why not have businesses given an incentive to hire a guy who might not have been perfect but who could be a great worker? Instead of screwing them so they can never work again and just go in and out of prison, costing the economy trillions.
We tried that here in our state. A company we make deliveries and pickups from got involved with a state program that paid them to hire convicted felons.
They made out with state money and paying lower wages to those workers. However after they got involved with the program, they experienced physical fights between the workers. So they hired private security. Then the security company pulled their guard because he too was hurt trying to break up a fight. The security company refused to service the business unless they were allowed to bring in a team of guards. At that point, it cost the employer too much money and they opted out of the program.
As a landlord, I had that same compassion of giving people a chance, so I rented to convicted felons. One was a former drug addict. He did electrical work and said he was going to rewire the house. He pulled all the wiring out, and left it that way. I had to kick him out for not paying rent. Same happened when I rented to a former drug addict who was a remodeler. I gave him permission to rip down a wall to make a much larger bathroom. He ripped down the wall and plumbing, then went back on drugs and left it that way until I kicked him out. The last felon I rented to, the house mysteriously started on fire in the basement. He too was a known user, but didn't work so probably owed a lot of money to lowlifes. That was a $80,000 fire renovation and my insurance canceled my policies on all my rental properties. I couldn't get insurance for 3 years.
Today, my rental applications include a question of criminal history. In bold writing, I put down I do not rent to convicted felons. Can you blame me?