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.”
I really don’t understand why you’re getting so much pushback for stating basic economics.
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But they’re not “market rates” when the government sets them, by giving out free money. Between the states and the feds, giving out $600 / week, they’ve set the floor for the hourly rate somewhere in the $16 range.
Gee, you'd better take some of your salary and bribe more Congressmen. The pipeline seems empty.
Maybe you shouldn't have destroyed an entire generation of talent.
India isn't panning out so well, is it? Yes, YOU don't hire H1-Bs. But everyone else DID, destroying the incentive for Americans to enter the field. Why pay inflated University prices when your job prospects for paying off $100,000 in college loans is near zero?
Start paying to train your talent. People aren't as stupid as managers are.
FReepmail.
More reading comprehension problems on your part. Again: you don’t “train” someone to do advanced math.
Read my Freepmail. Maybe it crossed your post over the internet.
It crossed—thank you very much.
What is not discussed here is that not only are many getting $16/hr to not work..their girlfriends are getting housing, food, medical benefits, etc. too...government (leftists) ruin everything
We went to a well known oyster house last weekend, manager said sorry, but no help,, offers $600 sign on bonus,, dishwasher makes $14 an hour,, don’t think pay is the issue here. Local quick stop gas station store offers $360 bonus
PER PAY PERIOD!
Bet they won’t hire 60yo bartenders. Most want nothing but hotties with unbuttoned blouses...
In the Bangor, Maine area, $14.50 is also advertised for McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and other similar businesses.
Some are offer $15.00 with a bit of experience.
My son is working at a local pizza joint. He is getting 6-10 hours a week overtime. Turnover is higher than normal and every other business on the main streets have help wanted signs.
The government is in competition for wages with the small businesses. I get it. Deal with it. Life is not fair. The friend of small businesses the Chamber Of Communism did everything to get rid of Trump. Stolen elections have consequences.
Buck up. Pay more and quit crying. Your carping is why the GOP RINOs won’t close the border.
Many small businesses run slim margins. In this situation, it doesn’t take much of an increase in labor costs to shutter the business. This was just demonstrated in Long Beach where two grocery stores were closed due to the imposition of a $4/hr. “hero pay” by the city.
Either the unemployment will end, or a bunch of small businesses will fail.
Great post!!!
Greedy/bad management.
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