Why Workers Can't Find Jobs When There are a Record Number of Job Openings

The U.S. had more than 7 million job openings at the end of August — the most since records began in 2000. The Labor Department said Tuesday that available jobs outnumbered jobless workers who were actively seeking work by almost 100,000, also the most ever. In fact, unfilled jobs never exceeded unemployed workers before March of this year, underscoring the tightness of the American labor market.

So why is it that so many great people can't find work? Here's my take on this.

Applicant Tracking Systems are preventing people from reaching hiring managers. Applicant Tracking Systems were designed to help employers manage their applicant flow. However, today they pretty much prevent anyone who doesn't meet all the requirements needed for the job, from being given further consideration. Yet, many of these candidates can do these jobs. It's time to stop screening candidates out and start screening them in.

Age discrimination is real. Lord help you these days if you are over the age of fifty, and in some industries forty. You immediately get placed into the "overqualified" bin. What's ironic about this is that the very people who are dismissing candidates because of age, will be in this same boat ten or twenty years from now. Focus less on age and instead, seek to hire people who can get you the results you seek.

The perfect candidate doesn't exist. I spent years looking for Mr. Right, so I guess you can say I'm an expert on this subject. It wasn't until I came to the realization that there was no such thing, that I found my mate. Forget perfection and instead look for Mr. or Ms. Right, for right now.

Your people don't know how to select for success. It's challenging enough to fill jobs. Now imagine if you are trying to do so and you haven't a clue as to what you are doing? I don't have to imagine this, as I've observed first-hand, managers fumbling their way through interviews. It doesn't have to be this way. Train all your hiring managers in the art of employee selection. Believe me when I tell you, you'll be glad you did.

What else would you add to this list? Feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section.

? Matuson Consulting, 2018.

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