LABOR SHORTAGES
“ It ’ s hard for us to find service techs ,” said Adam Hall of Meadows Farm Equipment in Wedowee , Alabama , located 100 miles east of Birmingham . “ We ’ re in a rural area ,” Hall says , “ and that makes it harder to find the right employees for service . Being short in the service department wears on all other aspects of our work ; somebody is always going back to check on repairs and ask questions .”
“ Unless I find someone who wants to work just seasonally , it ’ s hard ,” said Greg Paul of Paul ’ s Lawn and Garden in Massillon , Ohio . “ In the spring , I could use five or six more , in the off season , less . It ’ s hard to have enough people for our busy times , and to keep them when we ’ re not busy .”
Cutler believes there is plenty of blame pointed at the government for why people might not want to work . “ I ’ m looking at it ( hiring ) from a longterm perspective , having been in business for 41 years ,” he said . “ That ’ s being an owner and hiring people for four decades and change .”
“ I just lost a fellow I had for 26 years ,” said Pamela Dengler , owner of Sill ’ s Motor Sales in Ohio . “ He ’ s semi-retired and is still available for limited hours . It ’ s an extra challenge losing that level of knowledge and experience .”
90 % 80 % 70 % 60 % 50 % 40 % 30 % 20 % 10 % 0 %
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DEALERSHIP ’ S CURRENT STAFFING SITUATION PER DEPARTMENTS ?
38.5 %
61.5 %
76.9 %
23.1 %
30.8 %
69.3 %
0.0 % 0.0 % 0.0 % Sales Tech / service Office / admin
Short-staffed Well-staffed Over-staffed
Source : OPE Business
Hiring We asked dealers which methods work to help them find and hire people . Number one is an online job board , with 77 percent of dealers checking that box , followed by social media , at 62 percent , and an employee referral program , at 54 percent . Online ads work for about a quarter of dealers , and a couple suggested checking with your state ’ s employment office .
Dengler is finding flexibility is important for people . “ I was fortunate enough to hire a young man recently
Some dealers told us it ’ s easier for powersports dealers to find service techs than for OPE dealers ; the appeal of wrenching on motorcycles is a draw for some .
20 OPE Business May 2023 www . OPEBusiness . com