Top Experts Explain Why Montana Is 3rd In United States For This

Given recent events, one of the most prominent questions we hear is, "Why is it so hard to find employees?" So the experts have chimed in to explain what might be the cause of this challenge.

Montana recently ranked 3rd for states in which employers are struggling the most to hire. This is surprising because where ever you go you see hiring signs. Additionally, most jobs are offering some sort of sign-on bonus and benefits package.

So what is the problem? Why is it so difficult to find worthwhile employees? Experts from WalletHub may have the answer.

Don Kjellern, Executive Director, '68 Center for Career Exploration at Williams College says:

Employers have been burned by losing trained staff (often to competitors). Not only are there fewer prospective skilled employees available at the wages employers are willing to pay, but employers are having difficulty sourcing applicants that are "sticky," that is, show signs of sticking around long enough for employers to recoup their investment. -WalletHub

Could Kjellern be on to something? Maybe the reason that employers are struggling with hiring is that they don't feel like the applicants will stick around long enough to enable a return investment—which makes sense, right? I wouldn't want to hire someone that I thought would just turn around and leave a month into the job.

So what do the experts say employers can do to find and retain good employees?

Alan Benson, Associate Professor at Carlson School of Management in University Of Minnesota gives some advice to employers:

One of the ways employers can attract and retain workers during this period is to be very clear about the kind of person they want to attract and retain, understand how their demands are differentiated from those of their labor market competitors, and offer the types of pay and work experience specifically tailored to that kind of person. -WalletHub

Finding a job that pays a wage that will cover the cost of living in Montana is difficult. But for small businesses, being able to pay the high wages necessary to retain workers is also a struggle. At some point, we will need to find a breaking point.

cc: WalletHub