Companies facing the US labor shortage are simply deciding to pay workers more.
Average wages rose $0.15 in May. Together, the April-May jump is the largest since 1983.
Job openings sit at record highs, and Americans are demanding higher pay before rejoining the workforce.
For more than two months, businesses have faced difficulties in hiring. Data published Friday suggests employers are picking the simplest solution: paying workers more.
Average hourly earnings jumped $0.15 in May to $30.33, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its monthly jobs report. The increase is roughly twice as large as those seen before the pandemic and follows a $0.21 gain in April.