NJBIZ Conversations EXTRA: Michele Siekerka

The labor shortage afflicting many businesses — especially those along the shore — is real and has been well documented. While the causes remain a subject of dispute, it’s clear that the effects will linger for some time.

To highlight the problem, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association held a news conference on July 27 in Point Pleasant Beach during which business owners and tourism officials described the trouble they’ve had in hiring and what could happen if the situation doesn’t improve quickly.

In this extra edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Editor Jeff Kanige spoke with NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka about what the organization characterizes as a hiring crisis, the factors that created it and how businesses will have to change to meet the challenge.

“There’s no one silver bullet,” she said. “I truly believe there’s a lot of pieces to a comprehensive plan, and it can just be everything from the right working conditions — without throwing money at it for some people — because you will hear from next generation workers all about mission-driven jobs and good work flexibility, not necessarily about money. They’re not going to leave for money. They’re going to leave for a mission-driven organization, good culture and good flexibility in the workplace.”

To watch the full interview, click on the image below.