The U.S. economy and labor market have been a rollercoaster since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. Some sectors, like hospitality, have been hindered by pandemic restrictions, while others, like real estate and outdoor recreation, have seen a boom in activity. Businesses across the board have struggled to find and retain employees, but some local businesses have found what might be a winning formula: higher wages, bonuses and geographically broad recruitment.
Greg Hughes, owner of The River Pizza & Subs in Boulder, said that he is fully staffed for the first time in two years. How? Higher wages, according to Hughes, who told The Monitor last spring that he was headed into summer with just five of the 10–12 employees he’d normally have.
“We pay at least 50% more than minimum wage,” Hughes said of his wage increases. (Minimum wage in Montana rose from $8.75 to $9.20 per hour on Jan. 1.)
