An unprecedented number of “help wanted” signs appear in every town and city across America and even on billboards along the interstate highways. 

Flights are cancelled because there are insufficient flight crews to operate the planes. Supplies are limited at retail outlets due to a lack of manpower to work docks, drive trucks and unload merchandise. Restaurants and retailers have reduced hours. There simply aren’t enough employees to fill positions essential to a viable economy. 

What’s behind the scarcity of workers?

In their November 2021 article titled “How the New Era of Expanded Welfare Programs is Keeping Americans from Working,” Hayden Dubois and Jonathan Ingram summarized part of the problem: Welfare pays better than work for millions of Americans. 

Using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse, federal policymakers launched new welfare initiatives and expanded existing ones. These programs provide regular, recurring payments that discourage work for millions. When these programs are combined with existing welfare programs, the benefits are more lucrative than work. To compound the problem, the child tax credit previously offered to working family was modified to direct payments to families without the work requirement. Food stamps are available to able-bodied adults without dependents, further increasing government dependency. 

The fallacy behind the so-called poverty rate is monetary benefits from government welfare programs aren’t included in calculating income. This explains why, after spending billions on welfare, the poverty rate remains virtually unchanged. Keeping poverty rates high helps big government proponents declare capitalism doesn’t work.

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducts monthly surveys asking Americans about their habits. Based on their responses, the BLS places them in one of three categories: employed, unemployed and not in the labor force. The BLS describes the labor force as those who hold a job or are actively seeking a job. The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed by the labor force and multiplying this number by 100.

Mene Ukueberuwa, author of “Men Without Work,” said the trend toward idleness has been years in the making. Ukueberuwa said the United States is now home to an army of jobless men — more than 7 million between the ages of 25 and 55. This number has grown substantially since the enactment of COVID-19 relief government stimulus programs.

This trajectory of idleness is detrimental to individuals and society. In January 2022, Robert Rector, senior research fellow for domestic policy studies at the Heritage Foundation, said, “When you eliminate work, the societal contract is violated. Those who choose to work will have a double obligation to support themselves and their families and the families of those who choose not to work. Society will fall apart under that, and there’s no way of stopping it.” 

Welfare policies must change, or the “help wanted” signs will signal the demise of the republic.