Labor market experts generally agree that large numbers of unfilled jobs will push salaries up in many industries, at least to a point. But keep in mind that some of these industries are so battered that they may not want to spend the resources to boost salaries and benefits in a way that will attract qualified workers. Those that are willing to offer more attractive terms of employment are likely to pick up the top tier of hires, as is usually the case. Those that won’t adjust will see their job vacancies stay open, unless they find other ways to incentivize potential hires that don’t immediately hit their bottom line. One example is to loosen job qualifications. While economists may have mixed views on the impact of such high levels of job openings, these 11.5 million unfilled jobs are largely a boon for students, recent graduates, or anyone looking for a job. It means that every industry — though not every company — is on the lookout for people to join. For some companies in certain industries, failing to attract enough people to meet hiring goals would be a death knell for their firm. Consider a hotel without enough cleaners, or a bar without enough bartenders. This in turn gives workers negotiating power that they haven’t had for a long time. Companies are working hard to hang on to their talent, so one doesn’t even need to switch jobs to extract some concessions from an employer. And with so many employers all but desperate to fill positions, now is an excellent time to be actively looking for a job and aggressively negotiating for the best possible compensation, benefits, and perks. High vacancy rates are no guarantee that an employer will give in to all, or even most, requests. But they are a good assurance that if this company won’t give you what you ask for, you may well find a different company or even industry that will meet you in the middle and make sure you‘re valued in the way you would like to be.