Back in March, Greater New Orleans, Inc. said they had 50-thousand jobs across the region that needed to be filled.
WWL went to GNO, Inc. President & CEO Michael Hecht to get the latest on the agency’s drive to fill those jobs in the New Orleans area.
“Progress is going slow,” says Hecht. “The good news is that the job openings are there because businesses are opening back up. And the economy’s reopening and there is enormous demand.”
Hecht says slow than usual return to the labor force shows a change in thinking on behalf of workers.
“There are folks who aren’t necessarily returning to the labor force at the rate needed either because they feel they don’t need to return yet, or in some cases individuals have found other things they prefer to do including working part time and supplementing that with gig income.”
Hecht calls the slow return work a supply and demand phenomenon and possible structural change among the attitudes of one-time hospitality works who’ve had to change careers and find new ways to make living during pandemic times.
Still, Hecht is optimistic he’ll get those jobs filled, “I think that the positions will get filled before the state of the summer travel season.”
Hecht says they are continuing to recruit workers to return to the hospitality industry in time for the summer season.
“You’re seeing wages go up, you’re seeing signing bonuses, and then in some cases for some lower-wage jobs you’re seeing businesses find ways through automation and streamlining to not require the job.”
Hecht says regardless of looking for work, or returning to a job once held, the most important factor is people get vaccinated, period.
“We really want to project that image that we are open for business and that we’re safe and welcoming so people do come by for the summer and beyond. So making sure that people get their shots is also important.”