Data from the United States labor bureau shows 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in August. A local hiring agency, Darrell Walker Workforce said the issue isn’t unique to one particular industry— they are all in need of employees.
“There’s so many jobs open and People just don’t want to work. They are not putting themselves into the work force,” said Meredith Jefcoat, the Vice President of administration and quality control at Darrell Walker Workforce.
Jefcoat said companies have increased hourly pay rates by an average of $2 across the board in the past six months in efforts to bring employees in.
“We have companies call in and say I want to pay $10 an hour. We are not going to be able to find someone to work for $10 an hour,” said Jefcoat.
Competitive pay is one reason Destiny Burgett said she’s made the switch from a fast food chain to American cookies and marble slab creamery. She said she is paid fairly for her work and has a more flexible schedule. She is the assistant manager at the Trussville location.
“Sometimes the pay isn’t enough for what they expect you to do,” Burgett said about her previous employment.
Burgett says in the three months she’s been working at, they've been hiring multiple positions. She said they have had three employees and a shift lead quit within the last few weeks.
“It is a really fun place to work but it’s hard finding people with the will to work,” said Burgett.
And while many places still have help wanted signs in their windows, Darrell Walker workforce said the last few years they are faced with a new challenge.
They say it's difficult to differentiate between the ones who say they want to work and the ones who actually want to work.
“You could bring ten different people in here and chances of us being able to pick out the one who really wants to work now, it’s just hard to tell,” said Jefcoat.
Darrell Walker Workforce said they currently have 40 open positions they are looking to fill.