The Great Worker “Shortage”

Nov 12, 2022

We’ve all seen it. The job market is crazy right now. In January 2022, the U.S. reported 11.3 million job openings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Around the same time, 4.3 million people resigned from their jobs. But it’s not just that people don’t want to work. People aren’t just quitting their jobs; they’re switching jobs. So why is it so hard to find employees right now?

Traditional Hiring Methods Don’t Work

There are many reasons it’s so hard at the moment. One of the biggest is the fact that traditional hiring methods aren’t working anymore. You might have a great job available, but if you’re advertising in the wrong place, like the newspaper, it won’t get seen. Now more than ever, businesses need to be on social networks like LinkedIn and ScholarPath. Through these networks, you can reach passive candidates who may not be looking for a new job, but are open to changing jobs. You can also get a sense of a candidate’s personality and hobbies through what they post on their social media accounts to find good culture fits.

Traditional hiring processes can be lengthy and tedious. By using technology, you can streamline your hiring and onboarding processes to combat this problem. Platforms like CoderByte are great for evaluating candidates like software developers, data scientists, and data engineers. Embrace technology with open arms.

Workers Don’t Like Their Jobs

A major reason for the “Great Resignation” is the workers’ desire for better opportunities, leadership, and benefits. Four in ten people who left their jobs within the last year cited lack of internal opportunities as their main reason, while 34 percent cited uncaring and uninspiring leaders.

Before hiring new employees, focus on employee retention. Team-building activities and other growth opportunities are great for your workers. More than ever, people want meaningful careers instead of boring hourly jobs. Give your employees more internal opportunities. Make sure they can grow with you, not out of you.

They Want More From Their Jobs

Compensation and flexibility are the second biggest reason people quit their jobs. Workers want higher salaries, more flexibility (like remote work), and safer work options. Almost half of current job seekers are looking for jobs they can do from home.

You should trust your employees to do remote jobs if they can. Additionally, hiring remote workers opens up your talent pool a lot more than just looking for locals. Shift your employees’ compensation models to stay competitive.

Are you ready to see how ScholarPath can help you with your recruiting woes? Contact us today at scholarpath.com to get a free demo!