Tuesday Topic: Where are the Workers?

I agree with the conflicting messages.  Pick up a newspaper that states market valuations being at an all time high with the same page indicating a struggling economy, stimulus, etc.  With the job creation, unemployment, inflation, and other key, broad economic statistics, it is interesting how people blindly rely as if it was good information absent of disclosures of estimates, independent audit, etc.  Individual publicly traded companies must disclose estimates and have an independent audit done so the investing public can rely upon the information.  A combination what is or is not published on the media along with controlling key economic statistics could allow a force to paint whatever picture they want regardless of the underlying reality.

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Matt Johnson
CFO
Premier Bank
Omaha, NE
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-10-2021 11:45
From: Barb Rehm
Subject: Tuesday Topic: Where are the Workers?

This economy is sending so many conflicting messages, but none more so than the data around employment. Last week's surprisingly low jobs number (as in 800,000 fewer jobs created than expected) had market experts scratching their heads. The confusion led The Wall Street Journal to ask on its front page: "Millions Are Unemployed. Why Can't Companies Find Workers?" What do you think? Are enhanced unemployment benefits dissuading people from rejoining the workforce? Or is it more complicated than that? Perhaps remote learning is forcing parents to stay home? Or people who haven't been vaccinated yet are afraid going back to work might expose them to the Covid-19 virus? Are you having trouble attracting workers? Please share your experience and your opinion.

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Barb Rehm
Senior Managing Director
IntraFi Network
Arlington VA
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