In a tight talent market due to low unemployment, unfilled jobs are a common problem in the agriculture industry. Many companies have simply accepted vacancies as a new reality, but recruiting challenges could be holding back your team – and your business.
The High Cost Of Recruiting Challenges
According to Deloitte, it takes an average of 70 days to fill mid-level roles and 94 days to recruit for highly skilled roles. The costs associated with recruiting can vary significantly but according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) it costs upwards of $4,129 to hire an entry-level employee, with costs rising every step up the ladder. Obviously, it is important to fill jobs as quickly as possible to control costs, but it takes time and resources to assess job functions, audit internal talent, draft job descriptions, market roles and interview candidates, and each passing day adds to the total cost.
Unfilled Jobs Strain Existing Resources
While your HR and management teams try to recruit new talent, your existing staff must pick up the slack. They are not as productive as they could be as the juggle extra tasks, and all the while the possibility for burnout grows, as does frustration and resentment. The longer jobs go unfilled, the less confident employees feel in the company’s ability to recruit. This puts cracks in the foundation of employee loyalty and increases the chances of even more turnover.
Growth Challenges
A company that struggles to recruit simply cannot grow. A team that is already stretched thin can’t innovate or sell more. In fact, an overtaxed staff can ultimately lead to poor customer satisfaction and customer attrition. Unfilled jobs eat away at the bottom line on several fronts, making an organization unable to grow, less competitive and less profitable over time.
The High Cost of Moving Too Quickly
To combat internal strain and growth challenges, some hiring managers feel pressure to fill jobs quickly. This increases the chances of a bad hire, which only exacerbates the situation. Bad hires are usually not about skills – skills can be learned if the candidate has the right attitude. Typically, bad hires are about cultural alignment. Hiring someone who does not fit in with the team, whose values do not align with corporate culture or who simply has a poor attitude will cause team morale to suffer. Existing employees will still have to pick up the slack for the employee and they will feel as though their working environment has changed, making them more likely to leave the organization.
Is Your Business Experiencing Recruiting Challenges?
If you are experiencing unfilled roles in your ag business, Morris Bixby can help. Our team will help you find the right people quickly – even in this tight market. Contact our agricultural industry staffing experts to overcome your challenges today.