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State Employers Faring Better Than Many During Pandemic
Survey states

With the labor force participation rate experiencing the slowest recovery of any recession since World War II, WalletHub recently released its report on 2022’s States Where Employers Are Struggling the Most in Hiring, along with accompanying videos, plus expert commentary.

In order to see where employers are struggling the most in hiring, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on the rate of job openings for both the latest month and the last 12 months.

California Hiring Struggle Stats: Job openings rate during the latest month: 5.90 percent; Job openings rate in the past 12 months: 5.73percent; Overall rank: seventh smallest hiring struggle in the country.

To view the full report and the California rank, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-employers-hiring/101730

 

Expert Commentary

How can employers attract and retain employees during this troubling period?

“Employers know that they have to increase pay and benefits, and, for jobs where it makes sense, may have to agree to facilitate more remote work. The biggest pressure right now is on the lowest-paid work, so I would expect pay and benefits to be the main focus. We are seeing the push to unionize in various employers which have used zero-hours contracts and avoided offering benefits to employees, and maybe workers will be able to end those scenarios in this era of higher worker leverage.”

Rowena Gray – Associate Professor, University of California, Merced

 

Why do employers have difficulties in filling employment positions?

“I believe that the most difficult jobs to fill these days either require skills that most people lack (knowledge of industrial chemistry, for example) or do not offer enough in terms of earnings, benefits, and job satisfaction. Bear in mind as well that ‘essential workers’ have been overrepresented in the ranks of people killed or seriously disabled by COVID.”

Priscilla Murolo – Professor, Sarah Lawrence College

 

What are the main factors that are influencing the high turnover rates in the labor market?

“Real wages have risen somewhat, and some employers have begun to compete with new perks and benefits. In some cases, there are organized poaching from other companies. In addition, some jobs, especially those that are public-facing, are perceived to be so hazardous or unpleasant that workers are no longer willing to stay, even at higher wages. Fear of contracting COVID, abuse from customers, frustration over unavailable inventory, and other supply-chain issues have all made retail, hospitality, and some health care jobs much less attractive.”

Teresa A. Sullivan – President Emerita and University Professor, University of Virginia