Businesses are struggling to find qualified employees

EUREKA, Calif. (KIEM)-Trying to figure out where all the workers are is like playing whack-a-mole.  There’s no one easy answer.

Porter Street Barbeque, like many other businesses around Humboldt County, has had a hiring sign for a few months now but has only had four people apply. They are struggling to find qualified employees like many other businesses.

“It has been difficult, especially when COVID started because unemployment was offering so much extra money,” Sherry Seelye, Owner of Porter Street Barbeque. 

As of June, the State Employment Development Department listed 38 hundred people looking for jobs in Humboldt County alone.

“I feel like there are more career options for people to choose right now because everyone is short staff, so they are offering incentives,” Madison Tulamn, Porter Street Barbeque Employee.

Other factors in the mix include people looking for more pay and students going back to school. By the way, those enhanced federal unemployment benefits expire on September 6th unless Congress decides to extend them.