Jan 11

Jan 11 Employee shortages challenging for local businesses By New York State Senator Joe Griffo

Uncle Sam needs you. Recently on a visit to a local business, I witnessed an unexpected but welcome incident play out in front of me: A young man came into the main reception area to follow up on a job application he had submitted. While I admire the young man’s initiative, determination and ambition, the scene that I watched, sadly, is an unlikely occurrence for many businesses and employers that continue to face significant challenges when it comes to finding workers to fill open jobs.

Many critical industries, including health care, education, law enforcement, service and retail and manufacturing, continue to suffer from employee shortages as we move into a new year and continue to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The pervasive question is where did everybody go? There’s no federal bailout program to take advantage of anymore. Job openings are abundant but it appears that there’s an absence of willing workers out there. It’s not just a New York problem. This is a national problem and, in 2024, should be considered and declared a national crisis.

According to a recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, workforce participation remains below pre-pandemic levels. There are 9.5 million job openings across the country, but only 6.5 million unemployed workers. The labor force participation rate is down when compared to 2021 and 2020. There are several factors that have been identified as potentially contributing to this labor shortage, a 2022 survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found. This includes:

Two thirds (66%) of Americans who lost their full-time job during the pandemic say they are only somewhat active or not very active at all in searching for a new job.
About half (49%) are not willing to take jobs that do not offer the opportunity for remote work.
Almost a quarter (24%) say government aid packages during the pandemic have incentivized them to not actively look for work.
Younger respondents, aged 25-34, are prioritizing personal growth over searching for a job right now; 36% say they’re more focused on acquiring new skills, education or training before re-entering the job market.

We see the effects of this shortage play out in communities across our region, state and country as we have had to change and adjust our behaviors and lifestyles due to this shortage and a change in attitude.

It is now more difficult to get things done and to go places because stores and restaurants close early, there is limited late-night access to necessities and it is challenging to make appointments and get access to doctor’s offices and other important services because they are short-staffed. Once vibrant downtowns like Manhattan are not bustling like they once did because so many people now work remotely and don’t need to come into the office. I recognize that remote work has its benefits and has allowed people to live in one place and work somewhere else. However, as more and more companies make this shift to remote work, we must be careful that we don’t lose our connection with our community.

It is important that we remain mindful of the potential adverse economic impact that this change may have on our local retailers, restaurants, coffee shops and other small businesses – the lifeblood of our communities that are often reliant on foot traffic – have seen less and less customers as more people work from home and are not commuting to their jobs. According to Business Insider, a reputable news website, less economic activity in communities could potentially lead to neighborhood decline, more crime and a lower quality of life for residents.

I am hoping that in the new year, we will finally be able to figure out where everybody went, how to rectify this problem and that Americans will once again be reenergized and reinvigorated to find work like that young man at that local business. As we continue to confront this crisis, I am reminded of a character from our nation’s past: Uncle Sam. Yes, the man with the distinguished white mane and beard, patriotic attire and pointed finger whose personification has been used to enlist and motivate Americans, stir up patriotism and to remind us that we must continue to strive for excellence even during difficult times. Let’s get back to functionality as we were accustomed to as a society.

It may be time that we repurpose this image and say to the nation that “Uncle Sam needs you to get back to work, not settle for or accept mediocrity and once again strive for and commit to excellence for our nation’s success.”

New York State Senator and Assistant Minority Leader Joe Griffo represents the 53rd District

Special thanks to The Genesis Group for contributing this article. The Genesis Group is a civic organization that unites Business and Community Leaders working to advance regional Economic, Social and Cultural interests, and to foster unity and cooperation in the Mohawk Valley region of Upstate New York.