Lake Houston - Humble - Kingwood Edition | March 2022

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a liter of Jack Daniels or Crown Royal,” Bixby said. “Right now, it’s very di- cult to get scotch.” Alongside supply chain disrup- tions are stang shortages. The GHP reported there are around 92,300 fewer unemployed workers looking for work in the Houston region with unemploy- ment down from 5.1% in December 2020 to 4.8% in December 2021. Swift said he hopes customers will be patient with local businesses during this time, as they are often short- staed or training new employees. “With labor shortages, employee turnover, et cetera, the service might not be as fast, and that new employee might make a mistake,” he said. “If we slip, give us a break—we are all suering together, and we will make it right.” A rebounding economy Although the pandemic has proved to be challenging andmany local busi- nesses across the U.S. closed perma- nently, the east Montgomery County area is seeing growth in 2022, Linab- ury said. “Because we are experiencing tre- mendous growth here in east Mont- gomery County, business is actually good,” Linabury said. “In fact, during

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas surveyed Texas business executives on the impact COVID-19 has had on labor market conditions. The graphs below compare responses collected in June 2021 and January 2022. The top impediments to hiring in January included: Greater Houston jobs left to recoup 44,700

Lacking in labor Business owners gauged how the availability of applicants had changed in the past month:

Improved signicantly Improved slightly Worsened slightly No change Worsened signicantly

73.3% Lack of available applicants/ no applicants 53.4% Workers looking for more pay than is oered 32.7% Lack of experience 17.5% Inability to pass a drug test and/or background check 15.9% Lack of child care, including school interruptions 15.5% Fear of COVID-19 infection

JUNE 2021

17%

47.8% 20.1%

15.1%

Greater Houston jobs recovered by end of 2021 316,700

JANUARY 2022 1.6%

40.8% 35.9%

9.2%

12.5%

SOURCES: GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLASCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

the pandemic, we experienced growth beyond projections.” Likewise, LaCour said the Lake Houston area is continuing to thrive. “Companies here are expanding, and new companies are locating here due to the outstanding assets, talent, amenities and quality of life we have to oer,” he said. While stang shortages and access to supply lines are unfavorable, Jan- kowski said he believes they are growing pains of an economy that has

recovered. The GHP reported about 316,700 of the region’s 361,400 jobs lost have been recovered as of the end of 2021. The GHP also reported a 5.1% increase in job creation in 2021 with 151,800 new positions. Breda saidhe believes one of the best things an individual can do to support local businesses is to get vaccinated. “One of the worst things that could happen for me, as a small-business owner [is] I get sick, and I lose two weeks of productivity out of my

shop,” he said. Choosing to eat at a local restaurant as often as possible canmake all the dif- ference for a small business, Swift said. “Pick the shop where you know the owner’s name and he or she is there every day and is possibly the one cooking your meal,” he said. Mikah Boyd contributed to this report.

For more information, visit communityimpact.com .

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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • MARCH 2022