Employers aren’t just struggling to find high-skill professionals, they are also struggling to find low- and middle-skill workers, according to a report released by TrueBlue Inc. (NYSE: TBI).
The Tacoma, Washington-based staffing provider surveyed nearly 1,500 managers and found that:
- 32% can’t find workers to fill low-skill positions (those that may or may not require a high school diploma and require little to no experience).
- 46% can’t find workers for middle-skill jobs (those that typically require some experience and continuing education but don’t necessarily require a four-year college degree).
- 35% can’t find workers for high-skill jobs (those that require a four-year degree or higher).
“Low unemployment coupled with globalization, accelerated technology advancement and evolving work models are creating talent deficits across all skill levels within organizations,” TrueBlue CEO Patrick Beharelle said. “The skills supply is not keeping up with demand, which is fueling a greater intensity in an already competitive labor market and adversely impacting productivity, service quality and revenue growth for businesses.”
The report also found that employers are responding to the difficulties of finding workers with 41% planning to raise compensation for entry-level workers and 46% planning to train and hire the long-term unemployed.
