America’s small businesses still can’t find workers, but that’s not their biggest problem?
Across the U.S., small businesses are struggling to find workers. There are more than 10 million open jobs, the highest level ever and over one million more jobs than unemployed people.
Almost one-third of small business owners say they’ve had open positions they couldn’t fill for at least three months, double the level from a year ago, according to the Q3 2021 CNBC | Momentive Small Business Survey.
At the same time, over 40% of small businesses are experiencing rising wage costs, making staffing even more challenging.
Why Finding Workers Is Hard
Being short-staffed affects small businesses in many ways:
- Longer wait times for customers
- Increased workload for existing employees
- Potential drop in service quality
At Curry’s Collision, we understand these challenges. We focus on retaining skilled employees through training, recognition and team events, which ensure our shop runs smoothly and customers get fast, reliable service.
How Small Businesses Can Adapt
- Invest in Training: Training programs can develop skilled employees even when they’re hard to find.
- Offer Competitive Benefits: Wages, recognition and incentives help retain staff.
- Prioritize Workflow Efficiency: Tools, technology and teamwork can reduce stress on a small team.
- Customer Communication: Being transparent with customers about wait times maintains trust, even during staffing shortages.
At Curry’s, we combine our team expertise with services like collision repair and paintless dent repair to keep operations efficient, even when staffing is tight.
The Bigger Picture
While finding workers is a challenge, it’s not the only problem. Rising costs, training requirements and customer expectations also play a role. Small businesses that invest in people and processes are better positioned to succeed and that’s exactly what Curry’s Collision does every day.