The latest Missouri jobs report has Kansas City businesses concerned

KANSAS CITY, Mo, — At first glance, Missouri’s latest jobs report offers encouraging totals.

The state’s unemployment rate hit an all-time low, falling to an all-time low of 2.5 percent for July, but those totals have skeptics in the business world.

Traders who spoke to FOX4 Friday said those totals don’t tell the whole story because many qualified applicants aren’t looking for jobs.

Staffing experts believe that employers are not seeing the quality candidates they are looking for. Amy Tevis, who runs Kansas City-based Syndeo Staffing, said her clients aren’t satisfied with the job candidates who are available, and in her experience, up to 10 percent of interviewees don’t show up for their jobs in the person. interviews.

“If we look at the big picture, we don’t want to get discouraged because there are people out there and they’re responding, but we’ve certainly tried to keep up with the times in terms of the change that we’re seeing on an ongoing basis.” Tevis said Friday.

Count Tevis among those who believe telecommuting could be skewing those numbers because some people work from home and those numbers may not show up in the statewide totals.

Small business operators aren’t safe either. Store owners in Kansas City’s affluent Brookside neighborhood have their “Help Wanted” signs up, but the applicants they need aren’t coming. The story is the same with schools, restaurants and retail.

“That niche is still struggling because we can’t say — sure, do this at home. The free gift pack is made while you wait. It’s just a different situation,” said Casey Simmons, co-owner of A Store Called Stuff.

“I want to see people excited to come to an amazing, colorful and fun place to work, instead of giving me the wink that what I’m offering isn’t enough. That’s pressure. I can only do what I can do,” said Holly Pollard, who owns Brookside Toys and Science.

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Amy Tevis said there are plenty of jobs available in skilled labor and heavy industry, as well as hospitality. Tevis said applicants also ask about remote work quite often, which has become a popular trend since the pandemic began.