The pandemic caused the unemployment rate across the Greater Houston area to skyrocket in 2020, but the rate recovered closer to prepandemic levels in 2021. RATE ROLLER COASTER
Houston Healthcare has also seen its vendors set allocation limits for cer- tain products, such as silicone, Vick- nair added. Alongside supply chain disruptions are staffing shortages. Local business leaders agreed people have come to expect higher pay for what are coined “behind-the-counter” jobs. The GHP reported there are around 92,000 fewer workers in the Houston region now than a year ago. “The pandemic has changed how people work,” Johnson said. “I think there are opportunities out there for those that want to seek employment to obtain employment.” Looking ahead While staffing shortages and access to supply lines are unfavorable, the economy is bouncing back, Jankowski said. The GHP reported about 316,700 of the region’s 361,400 lost jobs had been recovered as of the end of 2021. “No one thought the economy would rebound as strong as it has,” Jankowski said. While the unemployment rate decreases and businesses across the region revert back to normal func- tions as before, an attitude adjust- ment in the labor force continues to
have major effects, Malone said. “All of our manufacturers right now are back to normal in the sense that they have hired people back; many of them have grown just because their product markets have grown,” Malone said. “The biggest challenge that our folks face has been finding a quality workforce.” Dissatisfaction with commute times, flexibility and pay rates has made retaining employees an issue at times, Malone said. Like other health care organizations, HCAHoustonHealthcarehas alsoexpe- rienced increased staffing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as people leaving the field to take care of loved ones, resigning from burnout or changing careers, Vicknair said. Cities and businesses alike, includ- ing those in Pearland, have started to adapt to the mentality change and are seeking to increase job retentionwhile also funneling quality candidates. “We are proactively recruiting nurses and nurse technicians and offer numerous benefits for those who join our organization, including a nurse residency program, tuition reimbursement, employee assistance program with mental health ser- vices, and professional development
Unemployment rates from 2012-21
Houston
Friendswood
Pearland
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022*
Years
*RATE FOR JANUARY ONLY
SOURCE: TEXAS LABOR MARKET INFORMATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
programs,” Vicknair said. One of the things the PEDC is in the early process of implementing is hir- ing a workforce director, who will be tasked with working with businesses, schools and colleges to develop not only the workers, but also relation- ships with the workforce, Malone said. However, no one knows how
long the issues with the workforce will last, he said. “It’s just a different world,” Malone said. “I think everybody is sitting here and waiting to see what happens.”
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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