Company has job openings, but says no one wants to work

How many plastics processors can relate to this problem: a thermoset molder in Wisconsin says it has openings for four workers, but can't find takers. The short, first-person story, "I have jobs, but no one wants them," comes from CNNMoney.com. It's written by Michael J. Fredrich, owner of MCM Composites LLC in beautiful Manitowoc, Wis. Fredrich says he has openings for press operators, with starting pay of $8.50 to $9.50 an hour, rising to $9.50 to $10 after 90 days. But even though there are plenty of people on unemployment, he says most people prefer to collect government benefits instead of working. "We are creating a permanently dependent class of people in the country who won't ever want to work again," Fredrich wrote. "Harsh talk, but that's our experience." Being short-staffed has negative implications for the company, but so would paying a higher wage to attract more workers. It's a real catch-22.