Anecdotally, I know several people who worked retail throughout college and showed up super hung-over basically every weekend, but who are now extremely responsible professionals in software, medicine, etc.

Again, I think salary and a sense of career prospects / something worthwhile to lose are far more important than individual proclivities or responsibility.

People know their retail jobs are bullshit, dead-end positions. There's nothing to lose and 10 more identical jobs waiting for them on the market.

> For lots of jobs that may not be an option. Operating heavy machinery puts lots of lives at risk, or it could be an insurance requirement.

Sounds like a policy (law) option to me.

But in terms of initial applicants, who may not be as flaky, advertising higher starting salary may bump up the non-flakiness of people showing up for an interview.

It seems to work for the highly paid developers who have had zero no-shows on your watch.

Otherwise, it appears that you're implying that developers are less flaky than other people.

That's not the objective. Offering more money for the position buys you a better chance of finding someone reliable.

Those who are good employees are already employed, and probably at a decent compensation level. Whenever this topic comes up, I always ask, "What compelling reason are you giving for people to come work for you?" I never get a satisfactory answer, usually because the people know that they have nothing compelling over the next job.

Pay better, and higher quality workers will be applying for your position.