Marion Economic Development (MEDCO) recently conducted a survey to better understand hiring strategies that businesses utilize to attract employees to open positions. Although barriers to employment range widely, a general lack of available talent, and in particular skilled talent, is adversely affecting all industries big and small.

Eighty-three percent of survey respondents stated they are experiencing recruitment problems. Challenges range widely in positions from engineering to school bus drivers. As a whole, traditional recruitment strategies are being utilized by running radio ads, hiring recruiters, using temp agencies, and doing targeted paid social media advertisements. However, companies are beginning to embrace more aggressive referral bonuses to current employees and empowering those employees to be company champions on their personal social media platforms.

The survey did show a unanimous response to not revisiting past applicants with rejected background checks due to safety concerns on the job. However, just over 26-percent showed interest for the first time in learning more about the benefits of employing ex-offenders and re-entered citizens.

The MEDCO team has developed new resources to support businesses searching for employees. A page at www.medcoiowa.org/jobs is now dedicated to job seekers and hiring resources. This is an active site and will continue to be updated with additional resources.

MEDCO continues to feature and promote jobs postings hosted by Iowa Workforce Development, Indeed.com, and Corridor Careers. Over the next 60-days, the organization will invest in a targeted billboard and social media campaign to attract job seekers to these postings.

A Workforce Toolkit has also been published for employers positioning themselves to attract and retain talent. The toolkit provides specific recommendations on how employers can showcase strengths while making a strong first impression to potential employees. Topics of focus include Recruiting, Applying, and Onboarding, Showcase Competitive Advantages, and Retention.

“We know this is a very complex issue to understand and sort through,” said Brady Quinn, MEDCO Business Retention and Small Business Specialist. “We’re working to bring solutions through creative conversations and resource connections. Workforce issues are going to take a collaborative effort to solve, we want to make sure we are bringing awareness to the tools so the businesses feel empowered.”