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.”
Already started posting that, but folks like to flame. You know what, hide and watch, wait and see what happens. When it's time to apologize for not listening, you naysayers will NOT be found anywhere.
Deja vu...
Well I can assure you. I’d never work for that wage. Ok maybe in 1987. I would not work less then 40 dollars an hour ever again. I’m at 43.40 an hour right now. Could not even imagine having to live on 9 or 10 bucks an hour.
If people really want to take home more money they should stop voting for the people who are taxing ALL of their money in every way possible.
It does appear to be a foreign concept to you.
You sound like what is repelling a lot of normal people from voting Republican.
You are the perfect example of economic simpleton. You cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up then then you cry about wages then you cry when prices go up
Except new to the workforce folks working part time, really no one in FL needs to make below $10/hr now. Anyone any decent will making $15/hr in less than 2 years and most solid employees can move to a shift lead closer to $20 in that time. But it’s not as bad as you think, between EITC, food stamps, section 8, other credits/benefits and zero fed income taxes, it’s closer equiv of $20/hr.....almost like the person working harder as a shift lead trying to move into general management, which is why many don’t really care. Your salary is in the top 15% for Florida, which is solid. You probably also take pride in your work, are fairly intelligent and reliable. The average $10/hr employee has none of those things and the ones that are are quickly making well above that in retail and hospitality.
You make good points. I’m just saying if people are not available to work, what options does a company have?
I don’t cry when prices go up. Who said that? WE NEED WAGE INFLATION IN THIS COUNTRY, DESPERATELY NEED IT.
Perhaps government shouldn’t pay people so much not to work. The economy has been destroyed thanks to money printing stimulus and shut downs.
In the short term - reduce service (eg no dine in seating just drive thru, no daily housekeeping, etc), try to convert Part time workers to full time, run more overtime, get creative on pay (eg bonuses for working 3 or 6 months), And bump starting rates a lot and review existing associates pay requently. We are doing all of those things currently at our properties. Longer term? Likely lead to more automation, less investment in new stores, shutting down more unprofitable ones or some combination of those 3. Or just widespread inflation
ROFL, you are at the pinnacle of stupidity. Do you know when people will work??
WHEN THEY ARE HUNGRY!
People don't want to work? Fine, they can either starve or grow their own food. You along with the rest of your diaper full ilk need to start appreciating the sweat and risk every single business owner and entrepreneur puts into a business. And here is a little fact your little marxist mind, not every business succeeds and the owner is responsible for ALL of the debt. Should he have each employee pay a portion of the failed business???? That would be nice but no, the employee walks. There is risk and reward but you want to take the reward away from the hard working business owner who risks it all and provides and opportunity for someone to work for them thus proving food and shelter.
Go take a community college course on basic business.
How long do you think wages can stay flat and the USA remain non communist?
Oh, so if the USA does not raise its wages then it will go communist?
Have you ever heard of the free market? It does wonders for supply and demand. Can't find anyone to work? Raise the wage. Easy as that. But let the business dictate their rates not some provocateur.
Appealingly no one believes in the free market FOR LABOR. The GOP floods us with legal immigrants, illegal immigrants and off shores jobs to keep wages down.
The the average dumb a$$ Republicans not being able to get a cheap dish washer in a restaurant is a crises but the effects of off shoring ENTIRE industries to the 3rd world is no big deal.
What makes you think wages have been stagnant in the US? Median household income has increased more than 40% in the last 10 years.
BS. In IT tester were making $50-$70K in 1995 with no experience. Developers in the mid 100K. That is NOT adjusted for inflation.
See that is the point. I don’t worry about ME all the time. I worry about the USA because I am a PATRIOT.
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