Addressing Today’s Workforce Challenges

By Angie Osguthorpe

As president of the Davis Chamber of Commerce, it’s not surprising that I deal a lot with our current workforce challenges, some of which we could even call a crisis. Growing labor shortages exist across the country but are not felt more strongly than here, along the Wasatch Front, as our economy is booming and growth is at an all-time high.

It seems ironic to me that, on average, we Utahns have more personal income than ever before while often the services and even the products we want are less available than they once were. Consider the restaurants that are closing their doors one or two days a week or shortening their hours or closing their lobbies because they can’t find employees to work. Consider the new Kia Telluride and other vehicles that had/have a nine-month waiting period or might be available to buy used off the lot for $5,000 more than the latest model. Consider the baby gift you couldn’t count on to arrive before the shower because of inventory shortages or slower-than-normal delivery.

We used to be able to count on a store being open during its advertised hours; now I call ahead just to make sure I don’t waste a trip. All of these scenarios and many more business disruptions are influenced by a lack of labor, often skilled labor.

As I have attended many Chamber meetings, read articles and listened to and participated in discussions, several main reasons for the workforce shortage have risen to the top, each with their own nuances. • We have an aging workforce and unfavorable trending demographics, such as Baby Boomers retiring at unprecedented numbers. • With national birthrates down, there are fewer young people entering the workforce to take the place of the retiring masses, and those who do enter often lack the needed skills. • Teenagers and early 20-somethings, especially males, along with other age-groups are self-selecting out of the workforce. • Simply stated, we have broken immigration policy and outdated laws. • And, of course, COVID-19 has affected the workforce, with fear of contracting the virus (especially the Delta variant), lack of childcare and extended unemployment benefits all keeping those eligible to work at home.

This is going to be a challenge that will not go away anytime soon. We will have to adapt to the new workforce climate and confront this challenge with creativity and innovation. Below are a few ways to continue

addressing the problem. Of course, this isn’t a comprehensive list, just a brief starting point. • Embrace innovation and automation. Robotics, machinery, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies and digital tools will aid with both the professional and skilled labor shortage. • Support comprehensive immigration reform. We need skilled and unskilled laborers to be able to enter the country legally, safely, and efficiently to help fill our employee gap. • Invest in skill-based education. Our technical colleges and other skillbased educational institutions will become even more vital as our shortage of skilled workers outpaces our need for more traditionally educated college students. We need to inform our young people that pursuing technical careers is a viable, and often optimal, choice.

There are also a few things we can do as individuals: • Adapt to paying more for services. We need to get accustomed to spending more for our personal services: massages, vacations, hotel stays, etc., including tipping better to encourage workers to stay in these service positions.

• Support programs to educate the less-advantaged. We should advance the opportunity for all able-bodied people to work and earn a family-sustaining wage. • Lastly, encourage your teens to work! Not only does it help the economy, but it teaches them valuable lessons in leadership, teamwork, and responsibility.

Our workforce shortages are sure to continue, but working together with foresight, innovation, and creativity, we can mitigate the associated challenges while helping our citizenry contribute to our economic development and continued quality of life.

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Welcome to Legacy House of Park Lane ... it just feels like home547 N. Station Pkwy (Directly North of Cabela’s)

Welcome to Legacy House of Park Lane ... it just feels like home Park Lane Park Lane

Welcome to Legacy House of Park Lane ... it just feels like home • Balcony & Walk-out Patio Apartments • Onsite 24 Hour Caregivers Delivering care with a “Personal Touch” • Month to Month Service Agreement • Short Term Respite Stayswww.legacyparklane.com Employment opportunities available Welcome to Legacy House of Park Lane ... it just feels like home

Park Lane Park Lane • Balcony & Walk-out Patio Apartments • Onsite 24 Hour Caregivers • Month to Month Service Agreement • Short Term Respite Stays

Schedule your visit today (801)939-4600

547 N. Station Pkwy

(Directly North of Cabela’s) Delivering care with a “Personal Touch” Employment opportunities available