When will labor rates rise?

I would've thought by now, labor rates would have insreased, however, they seem to be actually delcining in some instances. WTH?

Work appears to be booming, and contractors are screaming for help, in some areas, but labor rates continue to stagnate, if not, decline.

In our particular area, it's a catch-22; Work is slow. However, there is absolutely no available, qualified workforce what-so-ever. At the same time, work continues to go very cheap, as well as low labor rates.

One would think the simple laws of supply & demand would take hold......But, it hasn't. It's bizzaro.

I don't think the general workforce, as well as contractors, realize their potential oportunity at this point.

We prefer to hire guys who have no roofing knowledge - or miseducation. I tend to find more 30 somethings that need to work rather than young ones who will work towards a career.

One of the points is that there are very few authentic roofers around.....I wouldn't want the majority of my competitors' help either....They're all mostly worthless!

I suppose the only way it to train from ground zero, and that is going to be illegals, per the gov't.

My question has to do w/ your statement about not being able to find any good help. It was a SIMPLE question. You guys are touchy, maybe I should just go talk to the old timers at Golden Corral.

Round here, you rarely see ads for roofing laborers needed. You get nothing but low lifes/drunks, or pretty boys who think they can hang. I figured you must see a lot of guys who want to do nothing but toke up.

My question about "dope" only has to do w/ the fact that CO has the loosest regulations on it. I was just wondering if you give younger "dopers" a chance. And yes, I think it's pathetic that you can't smoke a joint at night and have a standard day job w/ any benefits.

Our school systems are the problem. We keep bringing them in younger and younger to start teaching them that if they listen to their government and follow the rules, one day they will have a job where they won't have to break their back. The american dream used to involve work, now it involves paperwork...and interest.

edit: well, school systems are one of the problems.

Good point wy

Duhduhduh dbubya what? That's like asking " will you hire me, I'm an illegal? The chucks in the trucks sell cheap so they have to pay cheap labor. If contractors would charge a fair price it is their obligation to pay a fair wage. You can tell who they are.

The Presidents' backdoor Dream Act just insured that the next generation of workers wages would remain stagnant. And still the poor young fools will overwhelmimngly vote for him. Even as he tacks on more bills for them to pay.

Huh? What does that have to do with the current state of affairs?

BTW; Yes, of course one typically advertises for help and no you can't have dopers on the job.

You live in CO, this I know. Do you advertise for help? Do you deny somebody if they smoke the reef?