BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Businesses across South Florida are asking: ‘Where are the workers?’ as they bounce back from the pandemic and resume operations.
“It’s been slow,” says Victoria White who works Human Resources for Lewis Marine Supply in Fort Lauderdale.
She’s referring to the hiring process, and she says the boat supply business is booming, but they need more help.
“We’re looking for sales, we’re looking for delivery drivers, we’re looking for talent in e-commerce,” she continued.
“I’m sure a lot of companies are going through the the same issue of finding talent in the area.”
Career Source Broward is seeing the same trend. This is why m more businesses are asking for help and turning to job fairs to find workers.
“Those restaurants, those bars, those hotels, they’re having a hard time finding workers, and it’s because of a lot of issues,” says Career Source Broward Sr. Communications Manager, Javon Lloyd. “There may still be people out there who don’t feel comfortable coming back into the workforce. They may have genuine health concerns. Also too, you know child care is a big issue. If you’ve been laid off and you don’t have someone to look over your children, that can prevent you from taking the job you really want.”
The problem even captured the attention of Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who believes a big part of the issue are the stimulus checks and people still collecting unemployment.
“I’m not calling anybody lazy, says Rubio. “I do call people logical.”
He continued on Fox News, saying, “I’m not saying it’s the only factor, but it’s real.”
As of May 3, Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity has paid more than 2.3 million applicants more than $27 billion.
And, currently, unemployment in South Florida is between five and eight percent.
Whatever the reason or concern, officials are saying now is the time to get back out there as businesses recover from COVID-19.
“Unemployment compensation as it’s known is only meant to help you temporarily,” says Lloyd. “So, getting back in the work force now is the best time.”
He added that the longer people wait — and the wider their resume gap is — the harder it will be to re-enter the workforce. Plus, he said the best positions will be already taken, as well.
Additional Resources
Stats: https://careersourcebroward.com/news/broward-county-march-2021-unemployment-data
Career Source: http://www.rightservicefl.org/node/16030
Upcoming Job Fair: https://www.return2work.us/
Companies Looking to Hire:
1. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
3. FASSMER Services America, LLC
4. G4S Secure Solutions
5. City of Lauderhill
6. City of Lauderhill Police Department
7. City of Lauderhill Fire Department
8. City of Sunrise
9. CareerSource Broward
10. Turnberry Select Hotels
11. United Community Options of Broward, Palm Beach & Midnite-Coast Counties
12. Teleperformance
13. Sonesta Beach Fort Lauderdale
14. Minority Builders Coalition, Inc (MBC)
15. Valley Forge Fabrics
16. GMS Connect
17. OB Construction Group
18. JAE Restaurant Group
19. Evelyn Pearl Nurse Registry LLC
20. Hospitality Staffing Solution
21. Virtue Medical Staffing Services, LLC
22. QML Quality Labor
23. VL Executive Services
24. 5100 N. State Road 7
25. Banyan Health Systems
26. Kent Services
27. Castle Group
28. Sonny’s Car Wash Services
29. Accurate USA
30. ALMIGHTY PROTECTION SERVICES 2 LLC
31. W FORT LAUDERDALE
32. Cirrus Solutions, LLC
33. Lewis Marine Supply
34. Ferguson Enterprises
35. Chef Eric’s Best Foods
36. Pave Co
37. Advanced Pools
38. Beacon Hill Career Training
39. CareAssist Home Health
40. LMK PIPE RENEWAL LLC
41. Hotwire (pending registration completion)