Across the nation, employers are in the midst of hiring thousands of temporary workers for the holidays. According to a new survey from Snagajob, some of the 90-percent of retailers who are looking to hire these temp workers are experiencing a tight labor market this year.
So what’s causing the labor shortage? According to The Wall Street Journal, many employers are citing the lowest unemployment rate in years compounded with rising wages for the nation’s lowest-paid workers. The U.S. unemployment rate is down to 5 percent, and the competition between employers to attract the workers they want is still increasing.
Snagajob’s Survey reports that 82 percent of respondents experience challenges filling temporary holiday positons. The three most common challenges were said to be a lack of qualified applicants (44 percent), a lack of available workers (34 percent), and competition from other employers (30 percent).
How to Find the Employees You Want
If your company is struggling to find the right applicants, it may be time to adjust your approach. Only 57 percent of employers are using job boards, although this is the primary way applicants now find hourly jobs. Try posting your business’ seasonal positions on a variety of online job boards.
You may also have to raise wages. According to ProLogistix, a staffing company, the wages forecast shows an increase of $1.50–$3 per hour from the usual hourly rate of $10–$12. Overall, we can expect to see a 4–8 percent rise in seasonal pay.
The final way to increase applications is to make it easier to apply in the first place. Hourly jobs, primarily filled by low-income workers, will most likely be applied to using a mobile phone. By optimizing your website for mobile applications, you will see an increase in completed submissions.
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