Some of the following will be preferred by the Left, and some by the Right, but a combination of both will address labor shortages effectively and sustainably.

We talk of a labor shortage when businesses can't find workers to hire for a prolonged period. Some believe this is a good thing as it gives (would-be) workers more leverage, but when it's widespread and long-lasting, a labor shortage will decrease overall production, leading to price increases that end up eating up most or all of the gains a tight labor market could give to workers. That's in addition to the socially unpleasant situation for everyday consumers not finding enough nurses, fast-food workers, and so on.

So what to do about it?

Any of the following will help, preferably a combination of two or more of them.

1. Tie more benefits to employment: People who can but don't work will receive a lower amount of any given benefit from the government.

2. Crack down on unemployment fraud: People who shouldn't but do receive unemployment have always existed, and the extent of their existence is largely dependent on the willingness of the authorities to track and prosecute them. Do more of that, and fewer people will work instead of unduly getting supported by tax dollars.

3. Immigration: Especially of the targeted kind that hires people in jobs where there are acute shortages.

4. Raise inheritance taxes: So that well-to-do ne'er-do-wells will have to be productive and make themselves useful instead of lazying around on Daddy's dime.