Imagine you are the manager of a manufacturing company that produces and sells electronic devices. Your company has been experiencing rapid growth and you are planning to expand your operations by opening a new factory. As you begin the process of hiring workers for the new factory, you notice that there is a shortage of qualified candidates in your local area. You are struggling to find skilled workers with the necessary experience and education to operate the high-tech machinery in your factory. Based on this scenario and the reading for this week, answer the following questions:

• Describe why the demand for labor is called a derived demand.
• Discuss how you would address the shortage of qualified workers and what strategies you would use to attract and retain skilled workers.
• Explain how a firm's wage is normally determined in the labor market.
• Discuss if you would consider increasing wages or improving working conditions to retain your current employees.