Where are all the Job Seekers?

We are living in unprecedented times. Ugg, how many times has that been said in the last 16 months? It has become cliché and almost grating to hear. However, when it comes to understanding what we’re seeing in the employment market, it is important to acknowledge that we have never seen anything like this. There is an applicant shortage across all levels and all industries. There are a few theories we have for this. We can see specifically in southern Alberta that the unemployment rate is low, therefore there are less unemployed people looking for work. Also, unemployed people are still receiving government income assistance and in many cases it is enough to keep them from pursuing employment. Another thought is that with the province being recently “open for summer”, people are enjoying their summer and not actively looking to start working again. With the societal uncertainty, many people are looking for stability and security so if they are working, they are less likely to seek a new opportunity at this time.

We find that when interviewing applicants, people are either looking for job satisfaction or stability. When things are unstable, people will choose security over satisfaction. However, people have also had time to ponder and evaluate their priorities and in many cases, are not going to settle for a job that is not meaningful, fulfilling and challenging. Employers should continue to woo their employees, appreciate them and find out what they need to succeed so that they don’t feel that they need to go elsewhere to grow or earn more.

We’re in this together, another cliché, however, in this case it means that employers and recruiters across the board are having a hard time attracting qualified applicants. Let this encourage you that you are not alone. This is another hurdle, but with patience and fortitude, we will all carry on. Don’t let the shortage scare you into making a desperate hire. Consider using a temp to fill a gap without the commitment. Make your position more attractive by increasing the wage. Think about broadening the scope of your requirements to include transferable skills, soft skills and ability to train into the role. If you do find someone who meets your qualifications, be ready to make a quick decision or you risk them finding something else while you wait.

We keep working diligently, getting creative with our job postings and reaching out to applicants in our database. We stick to our proven process to find you the best candidate available in the market today and we won’t settle until we find the applicant that is the best for you.