Worker shortage that is major is facing a city in Hawaii. Moreover, departments are ready to do some hiring. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has said the city does need to employ about 10,000 people. Thus to provide the level of daily services Oahu residents do need. But as of now, it has about 8,000.
Worker Shortage and Reaching the Full Potential
“With more than a couple of thousand is to operate at a deficit. In fact, common sense will tell you that it manifests in ways that are frustrating to us. Plus the public we’re trying to serve,” said Blangiardi. “Moreover, it is compromised us as to reaching our full potential. It more than anything in providing core city operations.”
COVID-19-Related Absences
Plus, to make matters worse are the COVID-related absences. There are people who are forced to quarantine for five days because they have been in close contact with an infected person.
On Wednesday, the city did hold its first in-person job fair since the COVID-19 pandemic did begin. This was to address the worker shortage. Plus, the event at the Blaisdell Center did attract more than 2,700 participants. They would be both in-person and online. There were more than 80 private employers.
Industries such as health care and restaurants still do face critical shortages of workers. This is while the statewide unemployment rate has bounced back to about 5.7% industries.
Whether it be in Zippy’s, FCH Enterprises, our corporate company, or even in our food production, we have a little over 200 openings,” said Lindsey Dadulla. She is a recruiter for FCH Enterprises Inc., owner of Zippy’s.
Recruit In-Person
Also, many employers have said they are glad to be able to recruit in person again.
“Also, it is good to be face to face. Then to gauge the interest level of the candidates. Also to really speak to the different opportunities,” said Jaccie Taiatano. She is the talent acquisition manager for Hawaiian Airlines. “Plus, starting at the beginning of the day, we had lines of people coming in. It’s been a good turnout so far.”
