We’ve all seen the signs. Drive through any community in our region and there are “Help wanted,” “We’re hiring,” and even “Signing bonus!” signs everywhere. Employers are desperate for workers as the economy reopens, and have been for months, as April’s employment numbers show.

U.S. employers posted 9.2 million job openings in May — just behind the record 9.3 million job openings posted in April.

And yet, employers were able to hire only 5.9 million people, down from the 6.1 million hired in April, according to the Labor Department.

“More than a year after horrific job losses and wage cuts, job seekers have a strong hand in the labor market again. Demand for workers is surging as the broader economy starts to emerge from the pandemic,” said Nick Bunker, director of the Hiring Lab.

There is a little more going on here than people just being “slow to find their post-pandemic normal.” The May report also shows the number of American workers who quit their jobs at 2.5%.

Capable people feel they can be choosy right now — and some believe one choices.is simply to not work. Of course, employers need to do their best to provide a fair wage, good benefits, and a good work environment.

Earning that fair wage is going to mean that a certain portion of your schedule will belong to an employer, in exchange for a paycheck. Returning to that understanding is one bit of PRE-pandemic normal we can’t get back fast enough.