With over 14 million people unemployed you would assume that all of the available jobs are accounted for, right?

Unfortunately you would be wrong.

I have met a number of small business owners who are unable to fill available jobs. This is especially problematic for eateries. Why is this the case you ask? Typically these establishments pay an hourly wage of $8-10. If they were to work a 40 hour week, using $9 an hour as a base, that would be $360 per week. Juxtapose that to unemployment insurance compensation (UIC) which might pay $300-400 per week, many people opt for the UIC benefit check.

No, this is not a rant against people who choose the UIC check versus employment, the problem is deeper than that. By accepting this type of job candidates are likely to limit their availability for any interviews that may come up as well as restrict their time to network and attend job fairs.

Make no mistake, I am not taking a position on this situation one way or another, I am simply stating the situation at hand.

Some may suggest that employers might consider paying a higher hourly wage. After interviewing hundreds of these small business owners I can say unequivcoally that they do not have the profit margins to support paying more in wages if they wish to remain in business.

What is the solution to this conundrum? I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas!