Following her appearance at the New Jersey League of Municipalities two weeks ago, NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka joined Jill Horner on Comcast Newsmakers to discuss how business challenges are impacting different industries amid a “perfect storm” that, she says, is making it impossible to keep a workforce at the ready.
“Unfortunately, these challenges, they’re all across the board,” Siekerka said. “I can tell you there is not a single industry that isn’t impacted by the hiring crisis right now. We have a workforce crisis that is of ill proportions – something we haven’t seen ever before.
“This has had a significant, disparate impact, particularly on working women, because of the childcare challenges thar are out there. But at the same time, we have a huge skills gap going on, as well as, just a feeling by folks, that they don’t want to turn back to the same jobs they had before. Everyone’s stepping aside right now and thinking what is it I want at the next stage of my career.”
To address these challenges, Siekerka told Horner that employers need to “lean in and try to meet the workforce where they’re at.”
“This is a trying time….but it is time to recognize we have some ‘Covid Keepers,’ something about the ability to remote work, as well as have flexibility for the workforce,” she said.
“We also need to continue to stay on our policy makers to insure they are bringing resources, programs and money to the front line of New Jersey business.”
To watch the full Comcast Newsmakers video, click here.
