3 Ways to Update Your Hiring Strategy

3 Ways to Update Your Hiring Strategy

Lingering and new disruptions to the supply chain make it difficult for employers to determine their staffing needs at any given time. Despite these headwinds, employers can use staffing strategies to better prepare for and respond to supply chain disruptions.

Supply chain disruptions create a litany of problems for employers, including challenges to their workforce. Often, workers will be personally impacted by the disruption. This can cause inconsistency in their attendance, quality of work and mindset. Conversely, the employer is often required to mandate unexpected shutdowns or shortened hours which can cause a long-term reduction in labor force participation. This can result in staffing shortages that can cause or expand supply chain disruptions. Eventually the company’s brand and public perception could be damaged by these issues, which can impact hiring in the short and long term.

Multiple variables can induce supply chain disruptions. While these variables affect labor and recruitment, they have other effects too. The complex machinery for manufacturing, for instance, must be maintained and serviced. If there’s a lull in supply, companies may take advantage of the time to update, repair and service machinery. This puts a larger demand on skilled maintenance professionals.

Some disruptions that have impacted the supply chain over the past several years include chip shortages, unpredictable pricing and availability of lumber, and freight pricing for shippers and receivers of goods.

Inflation and economic uncertainty play an important role in creating new supply chain issues. Pricing fluctuations make it difficult to determine how much product to manufacture and how many workers you need on the job site. Companies that find ways to adapt quickly to these challenges will be better suited to reach their goals.

Here are three ways employers can overcome supply chain-related staffing issues.

1. Plan for disruptions. Planning and preparing for when a supply chain disruption occurs is key, because they are inevitable in most industries. These plans will be vast and should include cross-training the existing workforce and investing in technology, adaptive work processes or locations.

2. Offer flexible scheduling. Demand ebbs and flows for certain industries and products. Some of it is cyclical, and some of it is due to market influence. When production slows down due to supply chain issues, workers can be negatively impacted by the loss of hours.

When possible, allowing for part-time work can help retain the workers you have on your team while you overcome the disruption.

3. Work with a staffing agency. Employment agencies can help pick up the slack for supply chain hiring. If you have a labor deficit or face staffing problems, they can help you find a solution. These firms handle temporary and long-term staffing concerns.

The logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing sectors are the backbones of industry worldwide, but they aren’t immune to the market’s influence. Changes in the supply chain can trickle down to these sectors and make it difficult for employers and managers to figure out their staffing needs accordingly. Employers should expect these disruptions and create proactive strategies to overcome them.

Having the same mentality for your workforce needs, especially with vital and skilled workers, could make all the difference when a supply chain issue impacts your business. With some preparation, flexibility and assistance, employers can adapt to the ever-changing environment and be ready for any challenge.