At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic the unemployment rate surged to 13.0%, rising from the previous rate of 6.7%. Since then, unemployment rates have receded as lockdown protocols relax and COVID-19 cases decrease nationwide. With the peak of unemployment behind us, many employers are still struggling to find adequate staffing, with organizations in the hospitality, healthcare, wholesale trade, government, and education industries experiencing the worst of this shortage.
However, there are many ways that your organization can combat the challenges of labor and staffing shortages. From offering better wages and benefits to reworking the way that you acquire new employees, in this blog post we’ll explore how your organization can expand your workforce.
What Caused the Staffing Shortages?
The exact cause of the staffing shortage is multi-fold and can depend on the industry. For the most part, this staffing shortage was sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdown policies leading to mass closures in the food, service, and accommodation industries. The reasons why individuals haven’t returned to work or seek out new employment are quite nuanced and can include:
- A demand for higher wages given risks of working in public.
- Career changes and seeking different work.
- Lack of child care.
- A drive for self-employment or entrepreneurship.
- Holding out for better work.
The cause of the staffing shortages are different in healthcare however, and far more complicated. For some healthcare facilities, physician burnout due to the pandemic is the leading cause of staffing shortages. Some of the other causes include:
- Healthcare reforms focused on expanding access causing a greater demand for care and increased importance for primary, urgent, and at-home care.
- Mass retirement of RNs and other practitioners after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The aging population and the increasing need for extensive healthcare.
Regardless of the causes of these labor shortages, there are a number of ways in which your organization can combat these challenges and adequately staff your team.
Adequately Staffing Your Team
Finding the right talent for your organization can be a challenging process, but with the right methods and assistance your goal team can be achieved. While there continues to be staffing shortages, your hiring team can utilize some of the following tactics to enhance your recruiting strategy.
Better Wages and Benefits
For some, poor wages and benefits are the central reasons why they’ve continued to refuse work even as employers hire on new staff. Wages have remained rather stagnant for several decades, even as inflation
rates continue to climb. Your organization can drive incentive for applicants by increasing the wages offered for the desired position. Additionally, many potential employees have refused work due to the fact that the pay doesn’t often warrant the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Your organization can combat these apprehensions by compensating your potential new employees with a wage rate that meets the demands and risks of the occupation.
You can expand on the desirability of your job openings by enhancing the benefits package. While adequate health insurance can be a great start to building your employee benefits, you can take these offerings a step further by adding in employee discounts on goods and services that your team might desire.
Flexible Scheduling
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reshaped the way many work and live. For many, these lockdowns offered up a much-needed perspective on their work-lives, with some desiring greater flexibility and a better work-life balance. When hiring on new talent for your team, it can be worthwhile to incentivize applicants by offering flexible scheduling. Whether your potential staff wants to work a typical 9 to 5, or less traditional hours, adapting the position based on individual needs can go a long way in boosting morale and driving more talent to your organization. This method is particularly effective in the healthcare industry as flexible scheduling can help combat the strains of physician burnout.
Rework the Way You Hire
The way you hire and onboard new employees can also play a role in helping solve staffing shortages. For instance, it can be incredibly worthwhile to seek third-party assistance in acquiring the talent you need to fully team your organization. There are a wide variety of staffing solution companies across the nation that specialize in a broad range of industries including healthcare.
Additionally, you can expedite the hiring process by fully optimizing your organization’s training and onboarding procedure. The specifics of transforming your onboarding process can vary depending on the needs, but ensuring that new talent is brought onto your team in the most efficient way possible can help your organization get down to work as quickly as possible.
Let CNECT GPO Help You Staff Your Team!
As a group purchasing organization (GPO), CNECT can help your organization combat labor shortages by providing extensive savings on recruitment and staffing services. From HR solutions and employee discounts to discounts with leading recruitment service providers CNECT can help you acquire the talent and skills that you need for your organization to succeed. When you become a member of CNECT you’ll also gain the guidance and expertise of a team of nationwide representatives dedicated to supporting your organization and providing custom savings strategies. With CNECT as your GPO partner, you can expand your team with confidence!
Contact a CNECT representative to learn more about becoming a member today!