New signs have gone up in the doors or windows of several retail locations in Hutchinson in recent weeks. The makeshift “Reduced Hours” signs have joined “Help Wanted” and “Immediate Interviews offered” as local businesses struggle to find enough workers to fill shifts. And it’s not just restaurants or retailers being challenged. While finding qualified workers is not a new issue for many businesses in Hutchinson or Reno County, said Mike Chisam, president and CEO of Kansas Protein Foods in Hutchinson and Kansas Ethanol in Rice County, it’s one of the most difficult labor markets he’s seen in 25 years of managing companies. That despite a local unemployment rate pegged last month at 4.7% for Reno County and 5.1% for Hutchinson.
Source: Hutch News
