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A
recent report by WalletHub highlights where employers struggle
the most in hiring workers. Illinois finished tied for fifth
place for those struggling the most.
Chris Davis, Illinois state director of the National Federation
of Independent Businesses, discussed some of the issues Illinois
businesses are dealing with.
"We are in a pause of uncertainty right now," Davis told The
Center Square. "Less than one in five businesses have fully
recovered from the pandemic, and you still have inflation being
a substantial burden on small business owners."
Inflation in Illinois reached a 40-year high earlier in the year
and sits at 6.8% across the state. Davis said inflation hinders
businesses' hiring of new workers due to higher costs.
"It is coming at them from every angle," Davis said. "Workers
are demanding higher wages, fuel and heating and cooling costs
have increased, and supply chain issues have caused inputs to
increase."
Davis went on to say that businesses looking to hire employees
are having difficulty finding qualified candidates for the
positions.
"You have a misalignment of the needs of employers and the
skills of the workers," Davis said. "Of those 44% of employers
attempting to hire, 48% of those 44% are reporting a lack of
qualified applicants."
According to the WalletHub report, Illinois' job market openings
have dipped to 5.6% over the last month, down from the 12 month
average of 6.93%.
Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a
reporter and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a
producer for the Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan
University and Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south
suburbs of Chicago.
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