Can’t Find Hourly Staff? You’re Not Alone
Data from the past five years shows that finding hourly/non-exempt staff is notoriously challenging. AgCareers.com's recent Agribusiness HR Review illustrates this difficulty only intensified in 2021, as agricultural employers noted hourly staff was the most difficult level and type of role to recruit for. Results weren’t even close at 71% of employers saying hourly level roles were difficult, with the next nearest category at 32% for middle management roles.
Source: AgCareers.com
Voluntary turnover was the most significant factor influencing ag workforce planning needs, followed by recruitment difficulties. Companies surveyed in the HR Review experienced recruiting difficulties for various reasons, with the top being the low number of applicants, followed by applicants’ lack of required skills.
Agricultural employers across the U.S. report that competition for talent is fierce. When asked to rank their top human resources (HR) challenges, “competing for talent” took the top spot. Beyond competition, “recruiting difficulties” was the second most frequently listed challenge for agriculture employers.
To meet staffing needs throughout the year, companies deployed various strategies. Employment of part-time staff, temp agencies, or temporary staff were the most prevalent strategies. Nearly 30% of agribusinesses employ temporary/contract staff for 3 to 9 months per year. Over 42% of companies employed skilled seasonal staff, typically from 3 to 6 months of the year.
The good news is if you’re experiencing recruitment difficulties, especially for hourly/non-exempt employees, you’re not alone.
How are employers competing for hourly employees? First is reaching prospective applicants by employee referral programs, followed by online job boards, like AgCareers.com. Social media is also a popular method to support recruitment efforts.
The Agribusiness HR Review provides a range of human resource practices relevant to participating agribusinesses over the last 12 months. The annual Agribusiness HR Review survey, conducted by AgCareers.com, highlights various strategies used in both large and small ag businesses, across a variety of agricultural sectors, to win talent. Download a free copy of the full AgCareers.com 2021-2022 U.S. Agribusiness HR Review report.
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