Do you ever go to a grocery store, see that the parking lot is full, and wonder how it's possible for so many people...

Unless I go in the very early mornings, I always find the parking lot full, and need to wait at least 15 mins to find a space.
I think the size of the car park is designed that way. Both the supermarket and the council know the numbers of the population and therefore the likely numbers. They plan it to spend the least amount of capital possible and have only as many employees as necessary to keep them busy the whole time - meaning there are always lines of at least three customers per checkout lane.

As to the timing, flexible work hours and people who can work from home has changed how it was when I was a kid growing up. Different jobs require different hours. Housewives want to get most of their shopping done before picking their kids up from school. Newsagents open at 2am to pack the cars for home deliveries of news. Bakers have to get bread in the ovens by 3am. Someone always has to work the night shifts in hospitals and aged care. And so it goes.

Exactly I think this always

I will go to the store at 3pm on a weekday and see it packed.

There is no way that all these people also have work from home gigs.

Also I don't even understand how it is possible for people to decide to not have a job. Benefits are pretty much nothing compared to working, why would anyone want to bring down their lifestyle to that level?

I think like this when I see protesters.

Not really, and I work in a grocery store myself. I just assumed they are working different times or off work that day. And my store is packed constantly.,

Depending on the time of Day.

yeah...and i think to myself..."must be nice and not have to work, but i'm here too" only because i took the day off, and i'm sure these people didn't just take the day off....if ya know what i mean

Shift work, stay at home parents, remote work, taking a break from the office.... I don't really wonder, and I usually know the tie slots to avoid.

Retired people.

Nope