5 Strategies to Overcome a Skills or Labour Shortage in Your Business

If your business is facing a shortage of skilled or available workers, you’re not alone. Many industries are struggling with this challenge as workers shift careers, move away, or businesses face difficulties in attracting talent from interstate or overseas. With the unemployment rate at a historic low, it’s time to rethink how you approach staffing to ensure your business continues to thrive. Here are five strategies to help you address a skills shortage in your business.

1. Assess Your Staffing Needs

The first step in tackling a skills shortage is to clearly understand your business’s staffing requirements. Do you need someone to work weekends, or do you have shifts that need filling during peak hours? Maybe hiring a part-time or casual worker will do the trick, or perhaps a contractor is a better solution for short-term needs. Additionally, consider whether there are tasks you could outsource, such as administrative duties, which can be handled by a virtual assistant remotely.

Taking a closer look at your staffing needs and business requirements will help you make the right decision without overextending yourself.

2. Plan for Growth

Before hiring more staff, consider your long-term business goals. Are you planning to move locations, expand your product offerings, or extend your hours? Any of these changes will directly impact your staffing needs, so it’s important to plan accordingly.

For example, if you’re running a café and want to extend your hours to include dinner service, you’ll need to ensure that you can staff these additional hours before advertising the change. Alternatively, you might focus on attracting more customers during the hours you already have staff available, or expand your menu to increase traffic. You might also explore training programs, such as apprenticeships, which could help you build a skilled workforce over time.

3. Support Your Current Team

It’s often more cost-effective to retain your existing employees than to constantly hire new ones. There are many ways to show appreciation and boost morale, such as celebrating birthdays or acknowledging team successes in meetings. If you’re facing a skills shortage, consider sharing the challenge with your team. They may be willing to take on extra shifts or help fill gaps without the need for new hires.

Providing opportunities for upskilling through training or mentoring programs can also enhance your team’s capabilities and improve retention. Look into workshops that could help your team develop in areas like sales, marketing, financial management, and health and safety.

4. Promote Your Business as an Employer

When it’s time to recruit, make sure you clearly outline the role, including job responsibilities, work hours, and any perks or benefits. Highlight the values that are important to your business, as these will resonate with potential candidates who share similar values.

Consider promoting your job openings on platforms like westernaustralia.jobs, which is designed to connect small businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors with skilled workers. You can also broaden your recruitment efforts by seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds, including mature-aged workers and people with disabilities.

5. Leverage Your Networks

Your staff, customers, suppliers, and even social media followers can be invaluable resources when it comes to hiring. By spreading the word about your open positions, you can tap into a pool of potential candidates who are already familiar with your business.

For example, include job postings in your email newsletters or social media posts, encouraging people who love your business to apply or refer someone they know. People who already engage with your products or services are often the best candidates, as they are likely to align with your brand values and culture.

Conclusion

Dealing with a skills or labour shortage can be challenging, but with the right strategies, your business can adapt and thrive. By assessing your needs, planning for growth, supporting your current team, promoting your business as an employer, and leveraging your networks, you can effectively bridge the staffing gap and position your business for success.