The article notes that California’s fast food workforce grew by 31.5% while establishments increased by 40.8%, but it overlooks the implications of this gap. More establishments don’t necessarily equate to better opportunities, especially if these businesses are smaller or more labor efficient, requiring fewer workers. Fast food workers …
The article notes that California’s fast food workforce grew by 31.5% while establishments increased by 40.8%, but it overlooks the implications of this gap. More establishments don’t necessarily equate to better opportunities, especially if these businesses are smaller or more labor efficient, requiring fewer workers. Fast food workers are also averaging fewer hours, which decreases the potential benefits of job growth and higher wages. It’s not just about how many jobs exist, but whether those jobs provide enough hours and stability for workers to thrive. The numbers might look good on the surface, but they don’t tell the whole story.
Good point (though not the one the author was actually making). Work overall has undergone the same transformation: fewer bodies working fewer hours more efficiently, which benefits the employer. Of course, lower end jobs have always had a lack of benefits and every job has seen an increase in demand for multi-tasking (hey look, now you can be both the fryer/shake gal AND work the cash register!).
It all leads to one conclusion: work sucks and low wage work sucks harder.
The article notes that California’s fast food workforce grew by 31.5% while establishments increased by 40.8%, but it overlooks the implications of this gap. More establishments don’t necessarily equate to better opportunities, especially if these businesses are smaller or more labor efficient, requiring fewer workers. Fast food workers are also averaging fewer hours, which decreases the potential benefits of job growth and higher wages. It’s not just about how many jobs exist, but whether those jobs provide enough hours and stability for workers to thrive. The numbers might look good on the surface, but they don’t tell the whole story.
Good point (though not the one the author was actually making). Work overall has undergone the same transformation: fewer bodies working fewer hours more efficiently, which benefits the employer. Of course, lower end jobs have always had a lack of benefits and every job has seen an increase in demand for multi-tasking (hey look, now you can be both the fryer/shake gal AND work the cash register!).
It all leads to one conclusion: work sucks and low wage work sucks harder.