7 minute read
Ryan Blythe
Labor Shortages Persist Despite Growth
BY RYAN BLYTHE
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Recently, Acworth’s Pizza, Pints & Pigskins event was postponed due to inadequate staffing. Taste of Smyrna was modified to a college football viewing party for the same reason. Business Insider reports 10.9 million jobs are available, a fifth-consecutive record high, and, according to the New York Post, 8.7 million people are seeking employment, which translates to a deficit of 2.2 million employees nationwide.
Many businesses are more concerned about staffing than any other issue, including regulations and taxes. The growth of the economy is difficult to take advantage of when businesses cannot fill available positions. Even Chick-fil-A had to close stores temporarily due to labor concerns. It is discouraging to see businesses turning away opportunities to increase revenue, when many were receiving government subsidies last year.
It is well known that there is a massive skills mismatch in the workforce; too many people do not have the necessary education or training required in our 21st century economy. Location also is a factor, since many people live in areas without industry and with high unemployment. These people are unable to commute or move to areas with growth and increased income potential. COVID-19 has not offered a remedy to this issue, with many having to take care of kids or aging parents, as well as the availability of extended unemployment benefits.
However, the labor shortage is not due to the pandemic. Even if the virus were eradicated tomorrow, we have not done a sufficient job in preparing for the inevitable. Pew Research reports that 28 million baby boomers have retired, an increase of 3 million from last year. When you consider they represent 25% of the workforce, along with a significant amount of talent and experience, they are not going to be easy to replace.
Generation X is too small to fill the gap, and, while we are nearing our prime earning years, we already are
Despite automation, immigration, training and education reform, the demand for manufacturing talent remains high.
outnumbered by millennials. Even by factoring in immigration, it is unlikely that the millennial workforce can reach the peak size of the boomers, which was 66 million in 1997.
To replenish the workforce, we need to rethink education radically, especially post-secondary education. Some politicians have suggested a K-14 model, which makes sense, as additional training and skills are attractive to employers. Others have pointed to models popular in Europe, such as short-time working, where employees agree to a reduction in time and compensation while the government makes up for the lost wages. Often, employers will use the part-time status to put their employees into training programs.
Considering we have the most educated population in history, and our largest skills mismatch, one could argue we’re sending too many kids to college. Universities need to foster a connection with the business community, because students don’t know what employment opportunities exist, and, often, their teachers don’t, either.
Some believe an increase in wages will lower unemployment, but companies don’t have unlimited margins. Most companies are offering the highest wages they ever have, and, in many cases, generous signon bonuses and benefits. Recently, I heard about an employer offering $5,000 for new welders. Ironically, pay is the fourth most important factor in the workplace, according to surveys produced by the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. The top three, in order, are opportunity for advancement, environment and flexibility. More than half (55%) of workers want to be remote, so companies may be offering the wrong incentive to new hires.
In an era where staffing challenges may span a generation, organizational culture is king. I would argue that it always was.
Ryan Blythe is the founder of Georgia Trade School, which for the sixth consecutive year, was named one of the Cobb Chamber Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year.
Meeting Malinda Howe, you would have a hard time believing she’s not an Acworth native. She’s the chairperson of the Acworth Tourism Board, the 2018 Acworth Business Association (ABA) Person of the Year, serves in ABA leadership roles and sponsors numerous community events alongside business partner, Deborah Hill. The duo from Anchor Realty Partners practically lives and breathes downtown Acworth.
Howe and Hill believe “having a heart for Acworth” is the key to the success of Anchor Realty Partners, a full service brokerage offering interior design packages, upfront services on preparing homes for sale, staging, landscape design and construction floor plan renovation design.
“If sellers are lacking funds, we can offer home improvements up to $10,000, which are refunded back to Anchor at closing,” Howe said.
Investing their time and energy into the community is important to Howe and Hill for building strong relationships, personally and professionally.
“With that, comes the trust that people give to us, as they put such a huge investment, buying or selling a home, in our care,” Hill said.
After working as a Realtor for three years under a big name brokerage, Howe decided it was time to go into business for herself, thanks to the nudge of a good friend, Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood.
“With words of wisdom and encouragement from Tommy, in 2006, I passed my broker exam and Anchor Realty partners was established,” Howe said. “He helped me recognize that people hired me because of my strong work ethic, not just because of who I hung my license with. I love the feeling of being part of a community, the small town feel, so unlike what I grew up with outside Washington, D.C.”
The Northern Virginia native has called Acworth home since 1996. Before becoming a broker, Howe spent 10 years in commercial real estate as part of a team with more than 20 successful acquisitions of Class A office buildings throughout the country. Since joining the residential real estate industry in 1993, she has gained knowledge and experience in historic home sales, in addition to having closed more than 150 new home sales. Within the city limits of Acworth, she has closed on more than 200 homes.
“I love what I do because I get to help people,” Howe said. “I have a servant’s heart, and I think I’m serving God by helping people find the right place. It’s not about the money — although the money is nice — what’s truly rewarding is helping someone find the right home.”
“I love selling real estate, especially in Acworth, because I believe that this is one of the greatest cities to call home,” Hill said. “I love selling clients not only a home, but the quality of life that Acworth offers! While the city’s vision is to build quality of life, Anchor’s vision is to sell it.”
Hill has lived and worked in the area for 20 years, and joined Anchor Realty Partners as a Realtor in 2018 when she moved to downtown Acworth. She spent more than 10 years working in marketing and business development with Chickfil-A and developed strong ties in the community. She decided it was time for a change after a conversation with the mayor.
“I was looking for a career change and sat down one afternoon with my friend Tommy Allegood, and he encouraged me to get my real estate license,” Hill said. “He had me reach out to Malinda as a mentor and broker, and the rest is history! I’ve gained a very special friend in Malinda through the process.”
Hill also brings her knowledge of design to the business, having studied interior design at Oklahoma State University. In 2020-21, Hill worked as a design assistant on HGTV’s reality show “Rock the Block,” filmed in Paulding County. She also worked as a design assistant on A&E’s “Sell this House” and, most recently, as the art director for NBC Peacock’s “Backyard Blowout.”
This expertise is a bonus to clients getting homes ready to list, or helping buyers make their new house a home. Anchor Realty’s goal is to be a thriving resource to the community in new and historic home sales.
