Tips from a Recruiter: Why Can’t Companies Find Workers?
The past 18 months have given the workforce time to think about what they want from their jobs. For many, they were forced into unemployment. For others, they were asked to work remotely. And for some, they were “essential” and stood on the frontline every day in the face of a pandemic.
Whatever the situation, it gave us pause in considering how to work in a different way and what is truly important. There are more job openings now than before the pandemic hit, according to the Labor Department. However, the U.S. workforce reached all-time highs in both job openings and voluntary quits while layoffs hit all-time lows.
Businesses are facing a talent challenge and can’t find workers to fill jobs. But why?
Here are some tips to shed some light on what companies can address in today’s market –
Employers Must Consider Hybrid Work:
Many people want work-from-home capabilities. A recent survey showed that 87% of employees want to continue working from home and 42% would leave a job that did not offer it. While some roles, like in healthcare or restaurant industry, may require being onsite, a vast number of jobs can be done partially if not completely virtually.
Poor Hiring Practices:
Time is of the essence and people have options, so requiring a lengthy interview process or delaying hiring decisions will cost you candidates. Overcomplicating the hiring process through 5 rounds of interviews, no quick feedback, or low-balling an offer is guaranteed to lose.
Retention is Key:
While you might be hiring one person, another one is likely quitting, so the overall gain is net zero. The workforce “quit rate” is the highest in two decades, so employers must keep existing employees engaged. The main factors are flexibility, pay, growth/learning opportunities, and strong benefit offerings.
COVID Fears:
People are still concerned about contracting or spreading COVID, and with the new Delta variant being more aggressive, those are valid fears. Vaccinations are available, but not everyone is interested. Masks are suggested, but not required. There are many unknowns keeping workers away from returning to offices. Again, being able to offer remote work is helpful, but having safety protocols in place for those that must be onsite is essential.
Overall, companies should take these reasons into consideration when asking why they can’t find employees. More importantly, they should accept that the working world has changed, so they can either adapt or be left behind.