Post-pandemic life — whenever that begins — is likely to feature a race. It will be between communities looking to prosper. Local leaders are betting that the winners will be those communities that have the ability and resources to adjust to the new environment left in the wake of the pandemic. Leaders with The Chamber and the Economic Development Corporation of Lawrence and Douglas County on Tuesday evening kicked off a new phase in that effort with the launch of a $2.5 million, five-year fundraising campaign to support economic development initiatives ranging from traditional activities like industrial attraction to less standard programs like the creation of new workforce child-care programs.
Source: LJWorld.com

Coming out of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses and employers either had to make adjustments to its workforce or operation hours. As 2021 moved along, things seemed to be getting better until the Delta Variant and others like it began to reshape the rest of the year in terms of employment opportunities. For businesses in Dodge City, pandemic or not, it has been a tough going in finding the right candidate to fit the job. “It’s tough to find quality help,” said Brock Cunningham, general manager of Best Western Plus Country Inn & Suites in Dodge City. “We have a great staff at this time but are we looking for more? Absolutely. We try to hire extra for back up but the economy is tough.”
Source: Dodge Globe

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

As Labor Day is upon us, Salina and surrounding communities are still in need of workers in the labor force. Leaders from these areas say openings and opportunities for employment are there, as are tools to help people find jobs. Eric Brown, president and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce said it’s hard not to drive around the community without seeing now hiring or help wanted signs. “There’s 1,554 jobs open and being actively advertised as of (Aug. 30),” Brown said of where the market is in Saline County. He said that encompasses 266 different occupations and over 510 employers that span a number of different industries and fields.
Source: Salina Journal