ROCHESTER HILLS (WWJ) -- Local businesses around metro Detroit are struggling to hire enough employees to keep their doors open.
WWJ's Jon Hewett reports that a job fair in Oakland County ended early this week because of lack of interest.
The event took place on Tuesday at the Village of Rochester Hills outdoor shopping center, but poor attendance left hiring businesses feeling discouraged.
Shea Messing, a manager at the women's apparel and accessory store J. Jill, says they received only one applicant during the fair.
"It's sad that our restaurants can't even open until dinner time because they don't have enough employees to make that happen," Messing said. "And now…the mall wants us to stay open longer, and we don't even have enough people on our own to make those hours happen."
Messing added that the store has been actively recruiting employee candidates for months with no success.
The hiring businesses are attributing the struggle to get workers to return to the job to unemployment benefits.
Last week, the state of Michigan announced plans for the "return to work" initiative, in which $1,000 grants could be provided to residents who found a job.
The grants, which would cover up to 400,000 people in the state of Michigan, are part of a $12.7 billion COVID-19 relief plan proposed by the Michigan Legislature, though a deal for funding has yet to be made with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
