Justin Waggoner, Ph.D., Beef Systems Specialist, Garden City
“Good help is hard to find” and that old saying is truer today than it may have ever been. All industries, including agriculture, experience challenges in filling available positions on occasion. However, many seasoned managers indicate that they are struggling to even get applicants for positions. So, what are some of the reasons behind what is being referred to as the “labor crisis?” A recent report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (https://www.uschamber.com) cites the pandemic as one of the major disruptions in the U.S. labor force. In 2021, 47 million workers quit their jobs. Some chose to return to the workforce seeking jobs with better benefits, flexibility or work‐life balance and others may have chosen retirement or to become stay‐at‐home parents. The industry with the highest “quit rates” was the leisure and hospitality industry, while the financial industry experienced the lowest rates. The question that remains is what can employers do to be more attractive to potential job applicants. The report suggests employers explore providing childcare benefits or provide opportunities for new hires to improve their skills sets through supported training programs or educational benefits.
For more information, contact Justin Waggoner at jwaggon@ksu.edu.
