Posted on 04/26/2021 4:41:52 AM PDT by Prov1322
Despite increasing numbers of initial unemployment claims across the region, local business and industry leaders say the jobs are available but no one is applying for them. The 60 members of the Greater Rome Existing Industry Association report some 400-plus open positions but say additional federal unemployment benefits and stimulus payments give some possible candidates no incentive to work.
“There are hundreds of jobs here, we just can’t find people to fill them. I was at the GREIA meeting this week and all manufacturers were saying the same thing,” says David Newby, President and CEO of Profile Custom Extrusion in Rome, which has approximately 180 employees.
Profile Custom Extrusion has a ‘Now Hiring’ banner up at their facility along U.S. 27 in Rome. Hometown photo. “In my 40 years here, I have never seen anything like this. We have always had a strong workforce in Rome. We do know the stimulus has created part of the problem. With the federal unemployment, folks can make over $16 an hour not working. They don’t have to search for jobs right now…there is no incentive to work.”
The state’s unemployment benefits top out at $365 a week, while the federal government adds $300 a week. That adds up to the equivalent of $16.63 per hour for a 40-hour week, which in some cases is more than they made when they were working.
According to the latest statistics from the Georgia Department of Labor, the initial unemployment claims increased 29% (32,102) in March to 143,410 compared to 111,308 claims in February 2020. Locally:
Floyd had 1,260 initial claims in March, up 26.8% over February. Bartow had 1,671 initial claims in March, up 22.1% Gordon was up 16.1% in March with 1,018 claims. Polk was down 8.6% with 502 claims in March compared to 549 in February. Chattooga was down 3.5% in March with 136 claims vs. 141 in February. For more: Statistics Pam Powers-Smith, director of Business and Industry at Rome-Floyd Chamber, says she has been surveying both large and small businesses on workforce and labor issues. She says all areas of employers are having trouble finding workers, including restaurants, medical, manufacturing, government and education.
“The types of positions that are available are quite honestly all over the spectrum. I think some people make the assumption that it’s only entry level positions but the survey said it was all…entry level, middle management, top level management, customer service, skilled labor, degreed and certified,” she says.
The chamber has a job site (www.romega.com) that is updated daily. It currently has 122 jobs listed. Powers-Smith says it gets some 10,000 hits each month.
Newby says his company has 12 open positions right now and could bring in more but can’t grow until they fill the immediate openings.
“We have both production jobs and management positions as well. We are having trouble just finding people who will show up. We will bring in seven employees just to keep one of them,” he says.
Jennifer Cole, Human Resources manager at F&P Georgia, says her company has 20 immediate openings and is doing “anything and everything to recruit new employees.”
“We have never had this difficulty staffing before. It is not because of our work environment. F&P is a great place to work; we have great benefits and wages. We have 14 million hours worked without a lost-time accident, so we have a safe environment,” she says.
“We’re finding it hard to recruit when we’re learning people would rather stay home and draw unemployment. As long as people are making $15 an hour with unemployment, they will keep drawing it…that is what we’re fighting against…I have never seen it like this in the 20 years I’ve been in the industry.”
John Cothran, Operations Manager at Brugg Lifting North America and chair of GREIA, says his small company has had trouble filling his vacant shop positions.
“Applicants are almost non-existent. Sometimes it is weeks before an agency sends an applicant our way,” he says. “We are certainly not on the upper end for starting wages. However, even some of those businesses with the higher starting wages have the same problem. I am sure the pandemic has played a significant role here but it seems that since COVID, workers can make almost the same staying at home.
“Fortunately, since we are a small company, we are maintaining by all of us covering all the business needs…we all wear a lot of hats. It is a daily struggle and until we are fully staffed, business growth maybe challenging.”
Manufacturers are not the only ones struggling to find workers. Local businessman and developer Wayne Robinson owns several Bojangles restaurants in Northwest Georgia including locations in Cartersville, Calhoun, Adairsville, Summerville and Hiram. He says it has been “extremely hard” to find employees.
“We have ‘Now Hiring’ signs up at all the businesses and have had no applicants. I think every fast-food and quick service restaurant is looking for employees,” he says.
“It is frustrating to operate with such low staff levels. That’s the reason we haven’t been able to open the dining rooms at Bojangles back up…there is not enough staff on shift to cover both dining room and drive-through. We have even had to close earlier because we don’t have staff. It has made us be creative in stretching employees out.
“Restaurants typically have 35-50 employees and everyone is fighting for same folks. The stimulus checks have taken away the incentive to look for jobs. So many are content not to work. But once the stimulus money evaporates, I look for the job market to return.
Hann with JWH Transport “In the meantime, we are offering higher salaries and entry rates…but it’s very frustrating to be a business owner right now.”
Nick Hann, owner of JWH Transport in Rome, also is having a tough time filling transportation jobs for truck drivers.
“We are not exempt…it’s hitting every industry,” he says. “We are a smaller transportation company with 40 trucks. We typically average at least 10 applications per month but we have had maybe 10 applications in the last 90 days…about a 60% decrease.
“Trucking as a whole is hard to find employees because there are lots of guys that hold a CDL (Commercial Drivers License) but getting them qualified is another story because of a bad driving record or drugs.”
“We are constantly hiring, even when the market is doing well. We need at least two drivers right now.”
Also Millenial: "I'm hungry! Why is it taking an hour for you to make my hamburger?"
It’s not a free market when the government is giving out $40k/year to not work, but thanks for playing.
Come to California where six-figure signing bonuses are the new norm for hot developers...and total compensation packages over a four-year term are seven figures. Yes, there is a shortage.
I cook for myself, mow my own grass and clean my own house. I do not employ directly or indirectly stoop labor.
No, they are not. Why do people post things that obviously have no clue what they are talking about. It’s not even legal to pay $7.50 in florida. The minimum wage in Florida is $8.65 currently and jumps to $10/hr in September. Our average pay in Orlando (we have numerous locations in that market) for entry level positions (front desk and housekeeper) is $14/hour and higher beyond that and we can’t find anyone.
Nope, you’re the one whining that you can’t find good developers.
I’m pointing out the root causes for the shortage: which is the pell-mell industry-wide rush to throw away an entire generation of US talent.
And you’re dishonest to boot. I cited examples of companies with far more employees than yours, household names, whose executives are centimillionaires to billionaires, not making a measly $400k. And these practices ran their companies into the ground.
That’s not a public pity party.
Nice attempt at lying through your teeth.
I can see why you’re having trouble attracting any talent.
Do you want a congrats or something? I do the same.
You are correct.
Put on your *management hat*, naps. ;-)
(Shakes hands.) Freepmail.
Pay more, this is capitalism, supply and demand.
Some people don’t want to wear masks 8 hours a day, either.
Boo hoo. Life is not fair. We need to feel the pain.
The oher choice is go out of business. I DON'T CARE. Again, pay more.
SB's are competing with the government for labor. So what? Again life is not fair. I compete with indentured IT/STEM third worlders with no rights. Is that fair...
You cited examples of failed companies. Why don’t you take a look at today’s successful firms? As for the pool of talent, in case you hadn’t noticed, the demand for developers has dramatically increased, even through the pandemic (e.g., gaming)...so, yes, the market is hot.
If you can’t find a job because you’re outclassed by low-skill H1Bs, it’s time for you to look in the mirror for the source of your problems.
Marxist!!!! /sarcasm
Exactly, in addition one pays less taxes, and if you have children you get even more free money.
25 years ago my whole IT dept was out source to an Indian H-1b body shop. I had not heard of H-1B before that. Two weeks prior I had received the highest review, a bonus plus a raise....
Business feel pain every day and I am 100% on board with eliminating H1Bs and reducing legal immigration. But what the government is doing is 25x+ worse than h1b for market distortion - maybe 100x worse.
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