WORKFORCE CHALLENGES
WORKFORCE SHORTAGE CHALLENGES HOW NORTH METRO BUSINESSES ARE DEALING WITH WORKFORCE CHALLENGES
The health and safety of the community isn ’ t the only hardship the pandemic has led to in the North Metro and beyond . Companies of all sizes have also found themselves dealing with workforce shortage challenges .
The problem is multifaceted . According to a poll done by Monster . com , one in four companies that want to hire workers is having trouble finding people to fill the roles available . Among the top reasons why : health and safety concerns , school closings resulting in parents unable to find or afford daycare options for their children so they decide to stay home instead , and a skills gap in the available labor pool .
A third of U . S . employers say the skill gap has increased compared to last year . Eighty-percent of employers polled say they are having a hard time finding people with the skills required to fill the jobs they have available .
Cindy O ’ Donovan , a business consultant , and seasoned human resources expert with Right 4 Your Business of White Bear Lake pointed out the skills gap has been around for a long time . Employers have long said schools should do more to train the workforce , and yet schools report that employers constantly change what they want schools to focus on . She thinks the way to overcome it will be for employers to take more responsibility for training and development .
Used with permission from Jacob Morgan , Author of The Future of Work at TheFutureOrganization . com
24 Northeast Metro Business