By: Tristan Hill
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) — Businesses across the country are struggling for staff amid a nationwide labor shortage, and local employers in Northwest Arkansas are no exception.
Many stores and restaurants, including those that have called NWA home for years like Eureka Pizza, are on the hunt for help as business grows but they can’t keep up with the demand due to lack of employees.
Rolf Wilkin founded Eureka Pizza in the 90s and he said he’s never seen a hiring market like the one businesses are faced with currently.
“We wish we could pay more, I know that’s what people want. But with our prices and our margins that’s a challenge,” Wilkin said.
With a need for staff and a workforce that’s moving slowly, Wilkin turned to attaching job applications to pizza boxes in hopes of getting some more applicants.
“It’s worked well for us,” he said.
Wilkin isn’t the only one hoping to inspire more people to take up jobs. Earlier in the year, Governor Asa Hutchinson ended the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which gave extra funds to those who might not qualify for regular unemployment.
“That was paying them $300 a week to stay out of the workforce. This made no sense, so we ended it,” Governor Hutchinson said.
However, the move didn’t work out as the governor intended. While unemployment is down according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Workforce Participation isn’t up nearly as much.
So even though some people are no longer receiving unemployment benefits, they’re also not returning to work.
Wilkin said he’s noticed those statistics playing out in real time.
“I was expecting more, to tell you the truth,” he said.
In spite of the struggle to find help, Wilkin said he’s optimistic about the future.
“We’re just excited to be here,” he said.
He also mentioned he doesn’t think the hiring shortage is a result of any economic downturn. He noted that business is good, he just can’t find the employees needed to meet the demand.