Hiring challenges continue to present problems for Kansas employers and businesses across the country.New nationwide data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows roughly 4.6 million more job openings in February than people to fill them. February is the most recent jobs data that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released. February job openings totaled 11.3 million, which was flat to the January total and down from 11.4 million in December 2021.[caption id="attachment_14130" align="alignright" width="187"]

A new Job Openings and Labor Turnover report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics helps paint a picture of the hiring challenges employers are facing.[/caption]Meanwhile, 6.7 million people were hired in February, a total that increased from 6.3 million in January. That’s evidence that jobs are being filled, but positions generally have taken longer to fill.Employers are also facing a general upward trend in people voluntarily leaving their job. The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover report indicates an estimated 4.3 million people quit in February. That’s up from the 4.25 million people who voluntarily left their jobs in January.Last year, almost 48 million people quit their job. That’s the highest number on record, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.Experts say increased opportunities in the labor market is one of the main factors leading people to leave their job. Few or no opportunities for advancement, low pay and a feeling of being disrespected at work are among the most oft-cited reasons people are quitting their job, according to a Pew Research Center poll.All of this is further evidence of a historically tight labor market and that hiring challenges will persist.

Strategies for overcoming hiring challenges

Hiring and human resources managers say there’s no easy fix to overcome hiring challenges, but being creative with recruiting strategies certainly helps.The reality is the focus of hiring has shifted to organizations being able to offer employee experience in addition to competitive pay. Increasingly, job seekers are demanding remote-work options, greater flexibility and a stronger sense of purpose with their work. Skills development and good working conditions are other aspects that are high priorities for job seekers in today’s market.Recruiters say overcoming these hiring challenges may require adopting a mindset that fits an employee-centric market. Here are seven strategies that could aid your recruiting efforts.

1. Ensure your wages are at or above market rates. This may require conducting salary assessments for your organization.
2. Be prepared to answer for applicants – and early in the hiring process – questions about what you can do for them in terms of benefits, paid time off, work schedule and work location.
3. Offer paid time up front, rather than having individuals accrue it over time after an introductory period.
4. Define career paths and present opportunities for employees to be paired with a mentor who will guide them along the way to achieve those milestones.
5. Offer tuition reimbursement as part of your company's benefits package. Tuition reimbursement programs take various forms but typically involve paying for all of part of an employee's education or job-skills enhancement after the completion of certain programs or courses.
6. Adopt longer-term paid maternity and paternity leave. That issue is being discussed more amid a growing push for federal legislation on the matter.
7. Be willing to incorporate flexibility into your jobs in order to satisfy another common job-seeker request. A LinkedIn analysis shows an 83 percent increase in job posts mentioning flexibility last year compared to job postings in 2019.

Incorporating even some of these strategies could mean landing more quality hires for your organization.About us: As the Heartland’s leading employer services company, Syndeo partners with local business owners to help them minimize risk, improve efficiency and maximize profitability allowing them the freedom to focus on growth and fulfilling their mission. Syndeo fulfills its mission by taking on all of the HR responsibilities for our clients’ workforce, including employee relations, benefits, risk management and payroll. Winner of the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Best of HR Services Award through ClearlyRated for providing superior client service. See our ClearlyRated profile here.