In case you didn’t know, we’re currently facing a major worker shortage in the marketplace. Fueled by the pandemic and other ancillary issues, many businesses are struggling to place and keep people on the payroll. And in many instances, the only way to address this issue is by increasing workplace productivity.
What Worker Shortages Mean for Employers
From Europe to the United States to every other industrialized region of the world, there are worker shortages far and wide. And while the COVID-19 pandemic may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, it’s not the only factor driving this problem.
Economists believe a number of factors are contributing to the global shortage of workers, including changing demographics (aging and retiring workers), immigration limitations, border controls, demands for better pay, more flexible working arrangements, and other worker-friendly benefits.
In the U.S., millions of people are leaving their jobs each month (and not all of them are immediately entering back into the workforce). This movement is being called “The Great Resignation,” and it’s disproportionately affecting those in service industries and low-paying fields. However, the longer the trend goes on, the more it transcends other sectors, too.
“The problem is not just a U.S. one, with many countries around the world experiencing a shortage of workers. It matters because it’s exacerbating supply chain disruptions around the globe, with key industries struggling to regain momentum due to a lack of workers or raw materials,” Holly Ellyatt writes for CNBC. “This disrupts both local and global production and supply networks, hampering economic growth and causing product and service shortages for consumers.”
In the U.K., the situation has been further exacerbated by Brexit. Many of the foreign workers whom businesses had relied on went home during the pandemic. This has led to serious shortages in industries like meat production, transportation, agriculture, and even gas stations. It’s unclear when/if these foreign workers will return. (Post-Brexit visa rules are tricky. This, combined with health-related challenges and a growing discontentment with poor working conditions, is amplifying shortages and causing the problem to drag on.)
Many businesses have increased pay and benefits in order to lure workers back into their buildings, but even they are seeing minimal positive responses. While it’s certainly interesting to consider the causal factors behind the shortage, businesses would be better off using their energy and creative resources to figure out how to remain productive during this time.
How to Remain Productive in Spite of Employment Challenges
Trying to remain productive while facing shortages and employment challenges is a very real issue. And though there’s no perfect solution, there are several steps you can take within your own organization.
1. Consider Outsourcing
Depending on the industry, you may find it easier to outsource tasks to freelancers and contractors than to hire full-time employees. And while it may require a change of pace and/or new processes within your company or workflow, outsourcing can actually be more cost-effective and scalable. Here’s a quick primer on how to get started.
2. Use More Automation
Stop looking at automation as this big, bad, scary thing that threatens your autonomy. Instead, see it as the key mechanism to driving greater productivity. Pay especially close attention to areas of your business that have lots of mundane, repetitive tasks.
Fleet management is a great example. While fleet management tasks like maintenance can easily suck up hundreds of man-hours, a simple shift to fleet maintenance software can drive greater efficiencies and eliminate frustrating bottlenecks, resulting in more productivity and less pressure to hire employees.
3. Encourage Remote Working
Millions of people got a taste of remote work for the first time during the height of the pandemic and do not want to go back to a 9-to-5 office job. If possible, encourage employees to work remotely and offer 100 percent virtual positions. You’ll see an uptick in applications and demand for your jobs.
4. Emphasize Company Culture
Don’t underestimate the importance of company culture. It might seem like a fluffy, inconsequential buzzword that you put in an HR video, but it’s something that today’s employees actually take very seriously. Get clear on what your company culture is and then work to actively promote it. People will notice.
Taking Charge
No company is going to single-handedly defeat the worker shortage crisis. So rather than using all of your energy, effort, and resources to fight back against the lack of available talent, spend your time making better use of the employees you already have. In other words, focus on increasing productivity. The more efficient you are, the better your results will be.
