Even our Country Grocer is installing self serve checkouts, due to what I am sure is lack of staff. They have a staff house as well as a friggin’ RV park at the back of their property. This place pays well, benefits, educational grant money, huge contributions to the local community not to mention a 20% off discount for staff and their families and still can’t find enough staff.
The world has gone mad. 
Matt.
When the CRB ends I am sure there will be lots of staff.
Having said that self-serve checkouts don't ask for wages increases, get paid overtime, sick days, family days, mental health days, covid days, etc or make mistakes. I am sure there is some shrinkage but there are at human checkouts as well. Besides, the self-serve machines create higher paying value-added jobs for the people who repair and program self-serve checkout machines.
I don't blame the retailers, if Governments want to enact rules to change retail economics then they have to expect retailers to adapt. What I would be concerned about are socialist Governments trying to whack a mole with more and more rules which only winds up making things worse for the people they claim to be 'helping'.