Dollars don’t drive our economy, people do.
It takes a strong workforce to move our economy forward and never has the workforce issue been more complex than it is today.
The pandemic has changed the workforce in ways we’ve never dealt with as a nation, and there aren’t easy answers. That doesn’t mean we stop trying to solve the workforce issue or take our foot off the gas in finding creative solutions.
Last month, there were 11.3 million job openings in the U.S. but only 6.3 unemployed workers to fill them according to research put forth by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Why is that? Is it because Americans have saved over $4 trillion dollars during the pandemic? Is it because new business startups are on a rapid rise? U.S. Chamber stats also show that business license applications increased a whopping 24% nationwide in 2020 over the prior year. Is it due to childcare challenges? It’s a combination of all of these and more.
In our recent chamber member surveys, you told us that workforce is your #1 area of concern, followed closely by housing and transportation issues. Each of these go hand-in-hand.
Workforce is a top priority issue for your chamber and many organizations are getting creative in how they attract and retain employees.
The Sea Pines Resort is building its own workforce housing. Local businesses are offering sign-on bonuses, flexible work schedules, and paid time off in industries that haven’t offered these types of benefits in the past.
How is the chamber taking action on the workforce front?
- Actively supporting South Carolina bills like Senate Bill 1120 and House Bill 5075 that modify State Housing Tax Credits to be more business-friendly and encourage developers to build workforce housing.
- Supporting the Apprenticeship Carolinas Program that gives students real-world experience and paths to great careers in the Lowcountry.
- Advocating for reskilling initiatives, educational and retention support for healthcare workers, and improving teacher recruitment and retention efforts.
- Closely monitoring local workforce housing initiatives and connecting the public and private sector on this front.
- Supporting infrastructure that eases workforce transportation and commute challenges while still balancing the quality of life we love about the Lowcountry.
- Strongly supporting the expansion and enhancement of our H2B Visa programs for much-needed seasonal workers.
- Offering educational opportunities like our upcoming seminar during Small Business Week entitled "Help Wanted: How to Find, Hire and Keep Employees in an Unpredictable Market."
These are just a few of the ways we’re rolling up our sleeves alongside our members to tackle the workforce challenge. Stay tuned for more. We welcome your feedback and ideas.
Make it a great week!
Bill Miles,
President & CEO
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
