Majority Report Worker Shortages
In the past year, 51 percent of business surveyed reported that their companies had experienced difficulties in obtaining workers with the skills necessary to fill specific job requirements. Forty-seven percent reported no difficulties. This is slightly improved from the second quarter, when 56 percent of business surveyed reported that their companies had experienced difficulties in obtaining workers with the skills necessary to fill specific job requirements and 43 percent reported o difficulties.
Of the firms reporting worker shortages in third quarter 2018:
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Twenty-seven percent reported short-term worker shortages
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Twenty-nine percent reported long-term worker shortages
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Forty-three percent reported both short-term and long-term worker shortages.
Labor Availability and Benefits Costs Continue to be Key Workforce Issues
When asked about labor market issues impacting their business, 25 percent reported benefit costs as the most important workforce issue in their business, and 23 percent of businesses surveyed reported the availability of candidates.