Retailers struggle with labor pool

Not only did Missouri store-owners finish with flat sales last year, they’re still putting a lot of money in payroll. Dave Overfelt with the Missouri Retailers Association says the number of available workers is so slim, retailers are having to pay $2 and $3 over minimum wage to keep decent help. That’s an added burden to merchants who’re already facing slumping sales. Overfelt figures the numbers for 2000 will be only slightly better than last year.