Americans quit their jobs at a record pace in 2021, indicating the truck driving trades are not the only sector struggling to fill positions.
According to end-of-year government jobs reports, upwards of 20 million employees left their post in what some are calling the “Great Resignation” or the “Big Quit.” The Labor Department, for example, indicated that 10.6 openings persisted at the end of November. That figure was down only slightly from 11 million at the end of October. But the quit tally reached 4.5 million in November, which matched the 3 percent resignation rate set in September.
Economists previously believed the great resignation was something of an anomaly when the quit rate hit 2.8 percent in April, before dipping to 2.5 percent in May. But the leave-your-job trend went on a blistering run over the summer and hasn’t truly slowed down.
“Workers continued to switch jobs in light of the many opportunities the current labor market provides,” Indeed economist Nick Bunker reportedly said. “The low-wage sectors directly impacted by the pandemic continued to be the source of much of the elevated quitting.”
Although wages typically drive people to switch jobs, the truck driving industry has experienced substantial pay increases over the last few years. Truckers have also taken opportunities to change freight hauling companies to secure better salaries and bonuses. Big box retailers are throwing money at qualified CDL holders to fill their ranks. But despite the attractive salaries, driver retention remains a year-over-year problem. Indeed economist Nick Bunker may not necessarily be seeing the forest through the trees, so to speak.
A recent op-ed published by USA Today led with the eye-raising headline: “Real ‘supply chain crisis’ is shortage of companies treating truck drivers with respect.” Complaining about the stacks of containers piled outside the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach, the author tears into issues that truckers have cited for years.
“But I want you to know that the issues our supply chain is facing weren’t inevitable, and they’re certainly not because there’s a shortage of men and women willing to be truck drivers. The real shortage is a shortage of good, union jobs that fairly compensate workers and treat us with the dignity and respect we deserve,” the op-ed reportedly states.
It’s not uncommon for experienced truckers to take local and regional routes that do not necessarily pay as well as OTR positions. Others leave the industry for occupations that may not provide the big paychecks drivers enjoy today. And many quit during their first 90 days as industry analysts refer to it as “early leaving.”
Truth be told, truckers have been engaged in the Great Resignation for decades because working conditions are sometimes harsh. Government fails to deliver needed safe parking year after year despite driver tax dollars supporting the recent $1.2 trillion infrastructure package. Now that the Big Resignation has become a movement, other sectors are finding it challenging to fill their workforce as well.
Sources: usatoday.com, wsj.com, bostonherald.com, cbsnews.com
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