The post-pandemic recovery of the economy and increased consumption has created a growing shortage of hourly workers in the US. The problem? There are not enough takers and many companies are being forced to take exceptional measures, such as increasing the wage they offer - by 10% in the case of McDonalds - or signing bonuses - US$1,000 in the case of Amazon. There are different perceptions as to the reasons behind the phenomenon. Many companies say that the financial aid provided by the federal government is a disincentive for people to look for work. But a survey conducted by Wonolo, a leading platform that connects workers with companies, showed that 98.4% of respondents were willing to work more or the same. Of those surveyed, 60% had received or expected to receive a government assistance plan check. Competition is tough. The key seems to be workers' pursuit of permanent contracts, according to several surveys, and the growing importance of having health coverage. In this sense, companies such as Amazon and Walmart are at an advantage because they have incorporated health plans for their workers, as opposed to platforms such as Uber that also compete for the same type of labor profile but without those benefits.