Employers are struggling to recruit staff now that many businesses are reopening. (Tim Mossholder/Unsplash)
Less than half of small business owners have been able to find workers, a new survey released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife reveals.
As the United States continues to reopen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, small business owners’ optimism around hiring prospects fades, per the report. The same percentage say they are either more optimistic or more pessimistic than before the pandemic.
The survey, conducted from June 16 through 23, shows that most small businesses have yet to begin recruiting, interviewing or hiring new employees this year. Only one in three small businesses (33 percent) reported it has been actively seeking, recruiting, or interviewing candidates during 2021.
Less than half of small businesses that have been actively hiring say it has been easy to find suitable candidates. The respondents reported they were able to find candidates in their area (47 percent), with the experience they require (44 percent) and the skills they need (44 percent).
As America continues to reopen following the pandemic, #smallbiz optimism around hiring prospects are muted and #workforce challenges continue. Read more from the #SBIndex report w/ @MetLife https://t.co/mH6ZTihJRf #AmericaWorks pic.twitter.com/q0pZI5q5nJ
— U.S. Chamber (@USChamber) July 15, 2021
“Small businesses are bearing the brunt of the current worker shortage. Many have given up on actively hiring new employees because it is challenging to find qualified and experienced workers for their vacant positions,” said Tom Sullivan, vice president for small business policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“To enable small businesses to grow, compete and prosper after the pandemic, we need our government leaders to make it as easy as possible for ‘Main Street’ [small business area in average cities] to find and hire the talent they need,” he said.
In more than half (54 percent) of the companies that have actively hired employees and reported some difficulty finding them, the business owner had to personally work longer hours or take on more roles while looking for them.
The survey also notes 42 percent of those who reported having a hard time finding workers requested staff work overtime, and 31 percent reported having difficulties with scheduling because they were understaffed.
“The labor shortage is starting to have a negative impact on our business. We have been working efficiently due to rising supply costs and the inability to find willing and qualified employees,” said Joe Shamess, co-founder of the veteran-staffed company Flags of Valor in Winchester, Virginia.
Small businesses are planning a combination of tactics to attract workers, including increased pay and new benefits. Some 22 percent of small businesses plan to offer a more flexible work schedule, and 21 percent plan to offer a hybrid or remote work environment, according to the survey.
The majority of small business owners (55 percent) believe the situation will go back to normal in the next year, and 27 percent think it will take less than six months. However, the desire to open is there.
About three in five small businesses (59 percent) say they are likely to open as soon as their state allows it.
Pequeños negocios enfrentan escasez de trabajadores was first published in Negocios Now.
(Translated and edited by Gabriela Olmos; edited by Fern Siegel)
