One of the most challenging issues that companies looking for quality skilled workers face is simply finding workers that show up—in other words, reliable dependable employees. It seems crazy, but one of the most consistent laments we hear from leaders from multiple industries sounds something like this: “I’m not as concerned with the skills they have as I am about finding folks that just show up and work!”.

The skilled trade shortage is real.

The economic shutdown from COVID-19 earlier this year caused unprecedented impact to the trade sectors: supply chains were disrupted or completely broken, customer bases disappeared, workers were furloughed, and the look of the workplace fundamentally changed. We’ve all had to adapt.

As businesses continue to reopen and get moving again after the economic shutdown earlier this year, considering a possible return of high COVID-19 numbers is likely the last thing on our minds.

While hiring itself isn’t too complicated, hiring the RIGHT people is hard.

How our quest to be relevant can backfire