DAYTON, Ohio — It’s May 5 or otherwise known as Cinco De Mayo, and there are concerns from the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce President who said there are not enough people taking jobs even though there are plenty of openings.
News Center 7′s Michael Gordon talks to financial analysts and employers who explain they feel is to blame.
The chamber president said staffing shortages are now front and center with businesses like Salar who is back in the hiring mood but still struggling to get their staff back up to full strength.
Salar Restaurant and Lounge General Manager, Brandi Perrine, said “It is crazy. Honestly, we are busier than we were before COVID.” And, she said the good comes with the struggle to find staff.
“Hands anywhere is what we need, “she said.
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Dayton Chamber of Commerce President Christopher Kershner said their new internal survey shows that 78 percent of Dayton area businesses are also not able to ramp up staff.
“We can’t have this problem if we are gong to fully re-open our economy,” Kershner said.
Kershner said the chamber’s survey showed construction, landscaping and manufacturing are all struggling to find people.
Barry James, CEO of James Investment Research, said, “Now that they are finally getting back on their feet – finding people has been a struggle all the way around for them. My hat is off to them.”
James, who has more than 35 Years pf experiencing managing money and researching financial trends, said employers are struggling locally and nationally because of the federal government’s stimulus stimulus and unemployment benefit programs.
“This is un unintended consequence to anytime you have a large policy plan and this is one of those where we have the restaurants back open and we are happy for that and now they can’t get people back to work,” James said.
He went on and added potential candidates may regret not job hunting right now once their benefits end. “It will be slim pickings,” he said.
At Salar, Perrine said, “We need people in the kitchen, management and there is a lot business coming in that what we are staffed for.”
News Center 7 also asked James when this labor shortage might end. He said many of the COVID-era stimulus programs will be allowed to lapse in about three months, which employers should see a spike in potential employees re-entering the market.
Cox Media Group
