[dragonwriter]

> There are specific labor categories that cannot be filled just by paying more.

Maybe, but...

> They require more training and experience.

Well, sure, those have more lag (all market signals in the real, non-ideal, world have some), and to cut through noise and make sure the signal gets to the labor force, you may need to pay for the training and the work that provides the experience, as well as the target job itself.

> Licensed tugboat captains are retiring/dying faster than new licenses are being granted

Dying you can't avoid, but sufficient pay can affect the choice to retire. So, to the extent voluntary retirement is an issue, that suggests pay is also an issue.

[mcculley]

Retirement is not very voluntary in this industry, in my experience. The majority of the tugboat captains I have encountered are not in good health and lose their annual USCG medical approval before 65.

[hotpotamus]

You're not really selling the job very well. I often hear about how people used to jump at job opportunities like this or working on pipelines or other infrastructure that required them to work remotely, and I wonder if there's some nostalgia colored glasses there, or if these jobs used to pay a lot better in inflation adjusted terms. Or if maybe there are just better employment options these days.

[dragonwriter]

> or if these jobs used to pay a lot better in inflation adjusted terms.

If not inflation-adjusted, possibly in compared-to-best-alternative terms.

[mcculley]

There are definitely better employment options these days.