How bad has the U.S. labor shortage gotten? Bad enough that parents are now moonlighting as their own kids' bus drivers—and getting paid to do it:

Bus drivers are in such short supply that EastSide Charter School in Wilmington, Del., is offering parents $700 to drop off and pick up their children for the school year...

"There's a labor and inventory shortage at the same time we're increasing enrollment and hiring," said Aaron Bass, chief executive of EastSide. "We've been looking like crazy for everybody you can think of: janitors, cafeteria workers, psychologists, counselors, bus drivers. Even if you have all the money in the world, you can't get what you need."

Elsewhere, Pittsburgh Public Schools is delaying the city's return to classrooms by two weeks due to a major bus driver shortage, while Montgomery County, Maryland, is facing a similar shortfall.

Make of this what you will—as a commentary on the government's paying people to stay home, say, or as a criticism of overhyped fears of COVID—but think of it this way: An enterprising, minivan-driving parent in Wilmington could arrange to drive his own kid and five others to school all year and pocket more than $4,000 as a result.

Those aren't bad wages for driving around in your own car!