1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio, Hey listeners. 2 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: The following is a bite sized version of an episode 3 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: of On the Job, a podcast from Express Employment Professionals 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,119 Speaker 1: that shares the experiences of everyday Americans finding their life's work. 5 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: These clips can be humorous and heartwarming, sometimes both at 6 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: the same time, and they're always insightful. 7 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 2: Enjoy Welcome to On the Job. As you might be 8 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 2: noticing if you're a longtime listener, I am not Otis Gray. 9 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 2: I'm Avery Thompson, who you may remember hearing way back 10 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 2: in season three when I told my story a brush 11 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 2: with fame. Well, I'm back again and I'm excited to 12 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 2: take the wheel for our whole new season of On 13 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: the Job are seventh in fact, so over the next 14 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: eight episodes, I'll be speaking with folks who have finally 15 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 2: folded up those pandemic sweatpants and are back out there 16 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: doing what they love and keeping America moving forward. This season, 17 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: On the Job is on the move, so come along 18 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 2: for the ride. It's become a bit of a tradition 19 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 2: here at On the Job to start the season by 20 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: speaking with an economist. So to kick things off, I 21 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 2: gave a call to Raleigh, North Carolina, to speak with 22 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 2: doctor Michael L. Walden, Professor Emeritus of North Carolina State 23 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 2: University and veteran economist with over forty years of expertise. 24 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 2: But before you go thinking, oh, no, an economist, hit 25 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 2: the fast forward button, you'll be relieved to know that 26 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: I chose a person that understands your apprehension and has 27 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 2: made it his life's work to help people get over 28 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: that econ phobia. 29 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 3: One thing we're going to see more of to deal 30 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 3: broadly with the labor shortage is something that we actually 31 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 3: feared a decade ago, and that is technology. 32 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: In other words, robots, well, also automation and AI, but yes, 33 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: also robots. 34 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 3: But I think some of those technologies have been developed, 35 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 3: they may hit at just the right time. 36 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: And it's no longer just factory jobs and other repetitive 37 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,239 Speaker 2: tasks that are at risk of being replaced. 38 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 3: So I don't think we should get too set in thinking, oh, 39 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 3: this labor shortage is going to go on. I do 40 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 3: think eventually we're going to see a lot of this 41 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 3: technology come in and be used by businesses. So I 42 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 3: still think people need to worry about getting the skills 43 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 3: that they need to get in order to get the 44 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 3: job they want, and just don't be setting back and saying, oh, 45 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 3: I can get a job anytime I want, because there's 46 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 3: so many jobs deal I think eventually it'll change. 47 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 2: So doctor Walden's advice, get that job now, Folks, strike 48 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 2: while the iron's hot. We'll be right back. 49 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:04,079 Speaker 3: A strong work ethic takes pride in a job well done. 50 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 2: This is the kind of person you need. Express Employment 51 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: professionals can help because in good times or bad, we 52 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 2: understand how critical it is to manage your business for 53 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: today with the right workforce. 54 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 3: We offer hiring solutions to fit changing demands. 55 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: Express knows Jobs. 56 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: Get to know Express go to expresspros dot com to 57 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: find a location near you. 58 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 2: We're back speaking with economist doctor Michael L. Walden, who 59 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 2: is just reflecting on the very strong post pandemic labor 60 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: market we're enjoying. But doctor Walden also acknowledges that even 61 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: in a blazing labor market that heavily favors the worker, 62 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: sometimes landing that job is easier said than done. 63 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 3: We are probably in an era where what businesses want 64 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 3: and the skills that are needed are changing more rapidly 65 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 3: than any time before, and I think what's going to happen. 66 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 3: This is not me saying this. The kind of jobs 67 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 3: that are going to be applied for people and the 68 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 3: skills that are needed are going to change. 69 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: Only time will tell how things play out. But I 70 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: hope for everyone's sake that doctor Walden is right and 71 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 2: things won't be as bad as some of these doomsday 72 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: pundits have been predicting that this labor market will continue 73 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 2: to roar. But then, just as we were wrapping up 74 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 2: our interview, I noticed hanging in the background of his 75 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 2: office a long row of baseball caps, all of them 76 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 2: bearing the logo of the Cincinnati Reds. And if you 77 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: know anything about the Cincinnati Reds, then you know you 78 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 2: have to be an eternal optimist to keep rooting for them. 79 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 3: My Reds had a horrible season last year. I think 80 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 3: they lost one hundred and two games, but I'm always 81 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 3: optimistic about a lot of young players, so I'm looking 82 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,679 Speaker 3: for good things from the Reds. Maybe not World Series, 83 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 3: but he's being competitive. 84 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: So maybe we should take doctor Waldon's positive economic outlook 85 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: with a grain of salt. Or maybe he's completely right 86 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: and we'll see the Reds in the playoffs. For on 87 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 2: the job. I'm Avery Thompson. I'll see you down the road.