Is There Really a Labor Shortage, or Are We Just Making Excuses?

Saying there's a labor shortage is a lot like hearing women say there are no good men left.

You’ve probably heard the analogy comparing men to parking spots: the good ones are taken, and the available ones are like disabled parking spots—you can see them, but you can't park there.

That same disappointing feeling of thinking you’ve found a parking spot, only to realize you can't use it, is also how many view the supposed “labor shortage,” job satisfaction, and diversity & inclusion.

But the truth is, there isn’t a labor shortage. There’s no real crisis of scarcity, only people becoming pickier about where they want to work. Perhaps even a little lazier, but definitely more selective.

And do you know why I believe that many obstacles in the business world are just excuses?

Whenever I talk to executives, they always tell me they’re short on staff. Soon after, they mention that people are leaving their organization. My response is always: you don’t have a labor shortage, and you’re not missing experts.

This isn’t what they want to hear—just like when people complain that there are no good men left.

They’ll often start to argue, and my first question is always: what’s your vision?

I look them straight in the eye, and they’ll come up with something that sounds great. Then I’ll press them on it, and they’ll admit, “Well, it’s written down somewhere.”

But if you, as the owner, can’t speak about your vision from the heart, how do you expect it to come alive within the organization?

Another common complaint is that there are no good employees available. To which I respond: that’s not true, because your current employees are ambassadors for your company.

In their own networks, they probably know some experts who aren’t happy with their current jobs. My next question to these executives: are you tapping into that network?

The usual response is, “But then we’d be stealing people from other companies.”

To that, I say: where do you want to take your company, and what’s the future vision for the candidate? Where can this potential new hire grow within your company?

These are just a few examples of how the biggest topics in hiring boil down to mindset and identity issues.

There are nearly 2 million freelancers out there, many of whom are struggling. They became freelancers because they were unhappy with their former employers.

Why not reach out to freelancers in your industry through the Chamber of Commerce? Find out if they’re satisfied with their current situation. If they’re not, you might just find a new expert for your team.

If you want to attract top talent, you need to be an attractive employer.

Share your mission on your personal LinkedIn account and show how you’re living that mission on your company page.

Paint a picture: if I work for this company, this is what I’ll be contributing to.

Conclusion: There’s no such thing as a labor shortage.