Amarillo staffing agencies experience more job seekers looking for higher pay

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Businesses continue to struggle with worker shortages, but staffing agencies are seeing more applicants wanting higher pay and work positions.

Many employees were laid off or had to work from home throughout the pandemic.

When offices opened back up, some employees decided to change careers, working on their own time.

Now, Express Employment is seeing more workers with entry level experience not settling for low wages.

“A year or two ago, we might’ve had positions that you know people were willing to accept say nine to ten dollars an hour,” said Tim Brashears, manager at Express Employment Amarillo. “Now we’ve not had anybody willing to accept anything at that pay rate for a long time.”

Latest data from Workforce Solutions Panhandle shows over 9,000 people in our region have completed courses through its training course platform, Skillup Panhandle.

HireQuest Direct is seeing more applicants wanting office positions without the proper credentials or experience

It’s management says people are still applying, knowing the positions have to be filled.

“Because there’s such a shortage in the workforce right now, not only are they having to maybe change the dynamics of how they’re hiring and what they’re willing to accept to fill a position, they’re also having to look at paying a little more or offering different benefits than they did before COVID-19,” said Shalotta Etheredge, Amarillo branch manager at HireQuest Direct.

Both agencies say another factor for applicants wanting higher pay and positions is because larger companies are moving into the Amarillo area offering benefits.

This causes local businesses to meet similar expectations.

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