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The tight labor market is producing a Santa shortage as malls try to return to real-life wonderlands after last year's virtual workarounds, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Why it matters: "Working Santas are capitalizing on their scarcity value, bumping up hourly rates and packing their schedules," the Journal notes.

"Concerns about the virus are still high among a group of workers that skews toward older, heavier-set men."

Go deeper: Surprise labor shortage hits schools

Santas demand higher pay

The tight labor market may hinder attempts to return to real-life wonderlands.

Santa shouts to a family at a Bass Pro Shops drive-by Christmas kickoff last Saturday in Springfield, Missouri.

Santa shouts to a family at a Bass Pro Shops drive-by Christmas kickoff last Saturday in Springfield, Mo. Photo: Andrew Jansen/Springfield News-Leader via Reuters 

Labor

The tight labor market is producing a Santa shortage as malls try to return to real-life wonderlands after last year&#x27;s virtual workarounds, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Wall Street Journal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-santa-claus-coming-to-town-maybe-not-blame-the-labor-shortage-11636471869" data-vars-content-id="a581166d-a205-42b0-ad0e-d0e480fc72a9" data-vars-headline="Santas demand higher pay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-santa-claus-coming-to-town-maybe-not-blame-the-labor-shortage-11636471869" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>.Why it matters: &quot;Working Santas are capitalizing on their scarcity value, bumping up hourly rates and packing their schedules,&quot; the Journal notes.

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

Economy

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Santas demand higher pay

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