ResumeBuilder.com Survey Reveals 86 Percent of American Retailers Can't Find Seasonal Employees to Meet Holiday Shopping Rush

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- ResumeBuilder.com, the premier resource for free and professional resume templates, has published a recent survey report on the ongoing labor shortage and its impact on hiring seasonal employees in the retail industry. The study generated responses from 1,250 store owners and managers in the United States.

According to the study, 86 percent of retailers who hire seasonal staff report having difficulty finding and hiring temporary employees during the holidays. Twenty-four percent of store owners say they are short-staffed by 1 and 25 seasonal employees. Sixteen percent of respondents are understaffed, with 26-50 employees needed, and 11 percent have between 51 and 75 unfilled jobs. By contrast, only 14 percent of retailers state that they are not short-staffed for the holiday season.

Survey results indicate that some key challenges for retailers include a lack of qualified candidates and low employee retention. Forty-four percent of respondents say it's challenging to find skilled applicants. Likewise, 44 percent of retailers also hired temporary employees who quit after working a few shifts. Among respondents who found suitable candidates, 41 percent report that applicants did not show up for interviews, and 38 percent hired employees who were no-shows for their assigned shifts.

The survey shows that most retailers, 61 percent, believe the COVID-19 pandemic is the primary reason for staffing issues. Forty-seven percent of respondents say fewer people are seeking temporary holiday work overall. Forty-two percent of retailers say many people prefer not to work during the holidays, and 40 percent say laziness among workers is a contributing dynamic to the labor shortage.

"There is a pervasive energy out in the workplace that is resonating with all workers, that there is something better out there for them," career counselor and recruiter Stacie Haller says. "With the abundance of job opportunities available, and the messaging from the media that now is the time to get the job you want, job-seekers feel empowered to do as they please during the hiring process."

In response to the seasonal labor challenges, many business owners are offering incentives to attract temporary workers. Forty-nine percent of retailers increased pay, 44 percent provided sign-on bonuses, and 40 percent gave employee discounts. Other incentives include health insurance (38 percent), permanent job offers (36 percent), and paid time off (34 percent). Conversely, 52 percent of retailers have addressed staffing issues by asking permanent employees to work overtime, and 41 percent require non-retail employees to take on retail-related responsibilities.

ResumeBuilder.com commissioned this survey to identify hiring challenges among retailers during the holiday season. The survey was administered via the online survey platform Pollfish from December 10 to December 11, 2021. Each respondent was found via a screening question and was required to own or manage a retail business that hires temporary staff for the holiday shopping season. To view the complete report, please visit https://www.resumebuilder.com/nearly-9-in-10-retailers-are-short-staffed-this-holiday-season/.

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Media Contact

Kristen Scatton, resumebuilder.com, (800) 301-9082, kristen@resumebuilder.com

SOURCE ResumeBuilder.com