There for years when it was hard to find a job. Now, it’s hard to find enough workers.

Many restaurants have had to cut back on hours and others have had to totally eliminate serving lunch.

They cite shortage of workers as the reason.

Just about every restaurant and many businesses have help wanted signs in the window.

Because I’m in Florida and so many places here have been damaged by Hurricane Ira, tradesmen are in even more demand.

My car was damaged when the garage roof collapsed on it during the hurricane. Traveler’s, my auto insurance carrier, was wonderful unlike other rip-off insurance companies in Florida. They responded immediately and wrote a fair estimate of damages.

The jolt came when I went to the auto repair shop. I am on the waiting list for service, I was told.

How long will it take?

At least a year before it’s my turn.

The other car repair shops are still shut down because of heavy hurricane damage.

And the lone remaining shop stopped answering the phone because they can’t accept any more business.

Why don’t they get more help?

They said they can’ find qualified help.

I understand that the hurricane has negatively impacted some businesses.

What I don’t understand is why there is a very long wait to see a doctor or medical professional.

My friend who heads a physical therapy department tells me they have no openings for three months.

I asked if all the thousands of snowbirds rushed here just to have physical therapy.

“Seems like it,” he says.

My friends in other states are telling me it’s also that way in their area.

What has happened to all the workers?

There’s been seismic changes in the employment picture.

Employers nationwide are saying that ever since their employees worked from home during the pandemic they don’t want to go back to an office. They want to continue working from home.

And if their employers won’t agree they will find one that will.

All that has me thinking about how the working world has changed over the decades.

When I was first married women traditionally were expected to stay home and raise a family while men went to work.

While some women resented their role, I felt sorry for the men.

When I took the girls swimming or walking in a nature park my husband had to put on a suit and go do battle every day.

I also didn’t think it was fair that all the pressure to earn money fell on the guys.

Money was tight on a schoolteacher’s salary back then and I didn’t see any reason why I had to give up my newspaper job.

But back then, the husband’s word was law, at least in our home. My husband said we might struggle financially but he wanted me to stay home with our young daughters.

Then another change came in the workforce. Women once worked if they wanted to. Then the economy got to the point where many women worked because it took two salaries just to get by.

There was a time when every newsroom was filled with men. The lone woman was probably what we called “the social reporter.”

A decade or so later there were as many women as men in a typical newsroom.

Women my daughters’ age grew up knowing they could be anything they wanted.

They also benefited from the change in marital roles. For my generation, few men shared household responsibilities.

I thought the next generation was more sharing. Partners expected a 50-50 sharing. In most homes, it didn’t work quite like that but gender roles were definitely expanded.

Employers also discovered women made excellent workers.

My smart niece Francine determined early on she didn’t want to have what was considered “a woman’s job” because they generally paid less than “men’s work.”

She got hired as a painter by agreeing to work for nothing for a week to show what she could do. She got the job and never looked back. She never let gender define her capabilities.

Throughout my newspaper career I often wrote stories about women who were doing well in jobs considered to be for men only.

A few women worked as a bulldozer or crane operator. A handful of women even worked in independent mines.

But 40 years later I look at the workforce and wonder why more women never become electricians or power company workers.

One change I have seen over the years is that fewer people seem to actually enjoy their jobs.

Two decades ago I heard a growing number of men say they didn’t relish working for 40 years or so just so they could retire. Several of those men went on early disability.

That disregard for work was also a major change for guys.

For many years guys defined their worth as being “good providers.” If they lost a job for any reason they weren’t happy.

Now, decades later I hear some guys admit they are proud of their accomplishments but wish they would have worked less and spent more time with their children.

Among the upcoming changes for workers is a four-day work week.

Will that make us happier and relieve some of our stress?

Are other major employment changes coming our way?

Do you think the job market will evolve into a different place?

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net