Sidney fast-food place offering $10 an hour for workers

HELENA, Mont. (AP) The owner of a fast-food restaurant in Sidney, Montana, ran a newspaper ad offering up to $10 an hour to compete with higher-paying jobs in the nearby oil fields.

But the only calls John Francis got were from other business owners upset that they would have to raise wages. And his current McDonald's employees also wanted a pay increase.

Francis says there's just nobody around that wants to work.

With unemployment rates as low at 2 percent, Francis isn't alone in struggling to find employees.

An economist says the trend has been 15 years in the making.

Established baby boomers are moving to Montana, creating a demand for new homes and thus, higher paying construction jobs.

Younger people have moved away searching for bigger paychecks.

And employers have been slow to increase salaries.

Economist Larry Swanson says new trends are coming. He says instead of retiring, older workers will go into semi-retirement, while the increased wages mean young people will be able to stay in the state.

By AP Writer Matt Gouras (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 08-26-07 1345CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list