A survey conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between Nov. 10 and Dec. 2, 2021, among 1,009 US hiring decision-makers found that 61% say their company has altered their hiring practices because of the national supply chain issues and report it will negatively impact their company’s growth.
To counteract the new hurdle for hiring, 56% report they have relaxed their hiring requirements due to the supply chain issue. And 32% say they have hired specifically for logistics/supply chain positions this year.
Companies with 100 to 499 employees are more likely than those with less than 50 and those with 500 or more employees to say supply chain issues will negatively impact their company’s growth (71% vs. 63% of those with 500-plus employees, 52% of those with two to nine and 56% of those with 10 to 49).The same companies are also most likely to say they have relaxed their current hiring requirements (76% vs. 64% of those with 500-plus employees, 63% of those with 50 to 49, 44% of those with 10 to 49 and 36% of those with two to nine).
In the hard-hit manufacturing industry, 74% of hiring managers say their company has had to alter their hiring practices because of the national supply chain issue and a similar proportion of hiring decision-makers for the service industries report the same (71%).
“Many businesses are ready and willing to grow in 2022, but can’t until something changes. The US economy is caught in this perfect storm where the breakdown in supply chains is just the start,” Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller said. “When you combine that with the scarcity of workers, companies are doomed to stay in this holding pattern for the foreseeable future.”