You’ve probably heard someone say, “Nobody wants to work anymore.” It’s a common complaint, especially from business owners or executives who can’t find staff, or from people annoyed that their favorite café is short-staffed. But the truth is much more complicated than just laziness or a poor work ethic.
Yes, labor force participation—meaning the percentage of people working or looking for work—is lower than it used to be, especially among men. But at the same time, unemployment is low, which should mean jobs are easy to get. So why are so many jobs still going unfilled?
One major reason is that many of the jobs people don’t want to work fall into a few difficult categories. First, some jobs just don’t pay enough. It’s hard to convince someone to take a minimum wage job in a city where rent costs more than their entire paycheck. Others expect highly skilled people to work for entry-level pay. That doesn’t work either.
Second, there are jobs with toxic or stressful work environments. Many workers have experienced bad managers, unpaid overtime, or being treated poorly on the job. Even if someone is willing to start a job like that, they likely won’t stay for long, which leads to high turnover.
Third, some of the job listings people apply to aren’t real jobs at all. “Ghost jobs” are ads posted just to collect resumes or make it look like a company is growing. People who want to work are left spinning their wheels.
At the heart of the issue is a growing gap between what workers expect and what employers offer. Some younger workers expect very high salaries—sometimes unrealistically high—especially when influenced by social media. On the other hand, many older employers or managers still think that $100,000 a year equals financial success, even though in most major cities that barely covers the basics anymore. Both groups are missing the bigger picture: the economy has changed, and the cost of living has skyrocketed.
Students are also staying in school longer, hoping that more degrees will make them more employable. But even top graduates from schools like Berkeley are struggling to find jobs in industries like tech. So instead of joining the workforce, many are staying in school to avoid a tough job market, which lowers labor force participation even more.
Geography matters too. In places like West Virginia, some counties have labor force participation as low as 42%, while others are as high as 77%. In areas where there are few job opportunities, people simply can’t find work. And many who want to move to bigger cities for jobs can’t afford to relocate. Meanwhile, those who can afford to leave often do, taking money and business with them and leaving struggling communities even worse off.
So no, it’s not that people don’t want to work anymore. Many just can’t afford to work jobs that don’t pay enough or can’t find jobs that actually exist. And those who do want better pay or working conditions are often labeled “lazy,” when in fact, they’re just being realistic about what they need to survive.
What can be done about it?
To improve things, companies need to start offering fair pay that matches the cost of living and the value of the work. That means raising wages, especially in expensive cities. Employers also need to create better work environments—where people are treated with respect and don’t have to work extra hours for free just to keep their jobs.
Allowing more remote work is another huge opportunity. People shouldn’t have to move to expensive cities just to find good jobs. By offering remote positions, companies can tap into talent from all over, not just those who can afford to live near their headquarters.
Governments and schools also need to better align education with the job market. That means offering real job training and helping young people understand what skills are actually in demand.
And finally, we need to rethink the idea of success. Not everyone will earn six figures, and not everyone needs to. But everyone deserves a job that pays enough to live on, in a workplace where they’re treated fairly.
So next time you hear someone say “nobody wants to work anymore,” remember—it’s not that simple.