If you listen to KVOE or go online to KVOE.com, you notice an increasing drumbeat of employers needing workers.
Southeast KansasWorks Director Leanne Kehres, KVOE’s Newsmaker guest Tuesday, says it has been tough for employers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She says it has been a frustrating 18 months for business owners.
Kehres says the demand for workers is “crazy” across Kansas at this time. Unemployment benefit payments and concerns about worker safety, both due to COVID, are keeping many workers home instead of searching for work. Manufacturing and healthcare are the sectors seeing the greatest need, but demand is well above average across the board.
As employers scramble for workers, Kehres says the state’s jobless percentage has been cut in half over the past year, even with an increase from June to July. At the same time, KansasWorks only reports jobless stats from online postings — and as of Monday, there were barely 500 available jobs in Lyon County. In addition, between 600-800 Lyon County residents commute to other parts of the state for jobs.
KansasWorks helps employers with online job posting, resume searches, hiring events, job fairs and interview videoconferencing as well as on-the-job training or registered apprenticeships. There is also a “tryout employment” program where employees with little to no experience can try a job for a couple weeks before possibly moving into on-the-job training or apprenticeships.
