What qualifications are these small businesses looking for?
That didn't seem to be in the article, but my personal guess is that positions are going vacant because applicants are not willing to show up on time and they're not willing to work during office hours.
Felony rap sheets and legal/immigration status may also be a factor....
1) Moral character.
2) Work ethic.
3) English language fluency.
We can teach anything else, but finding candidates possessing all three of these basic attributes has become phenomenally difficult.