Extended federal unemployment benefits have come to an end and some hope that will curb a worker shortage in Pennsylvania.
However, at a state committee hearing in Harrisburg last week, Alex Harper of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry says companies have already adjusted their thinking.
“You’re not giving your order anymore to a high school student or someone working a part-time job, you’re plugging it into a computer,” Harper said. “We do worry, are there going to be jobs for those individuals to transition back to, or did we make it too difficult for employers to hire individuals as opposed to looking for opportunities for increased automation.”
Officials also added that it’s not just the hospitality industry facing workforce shortage; small business construction companies and manufacturing are two other industries hit hard by the pandemic.