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Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Empire State Manufacturing Survey
There are nearly 14 million unemployed people in this country, but apparently it’s still pretty hard for some companies to find workers who can get to the office on time.
That’s according to Monday's Empire State Manufacturing Survey for August, which is published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The survey found that general business conditions have worsened for New York manufacturers, which is not too surprising given some of the other dour economic data we’ve seen lately.
The surprising data came when manufacturers were asked how difficult it is to find workers who possess certain skills. Apparently “showing up when you’re supposed to” is considered a skill, and one that’s actually somewhat hard to find, even when unemployment is so widespread.
Fewer than two in 10 manufacturers said they had no trouble finding people who were punctual and reliable. About the same percentage reported having “great difficulty” finding workers who can show up on time. The majority seem to be having some difficulty finding reliable, punctual workers.
Based on the survey results, New York manufacturers say it is harder to find punctual, reliable workers today than it was in March 2007, when unemployment was far lower.
Manufacturers also reported that it’s about as difficult to find workers with basic computer skills today as it was in March 2007. On the positive side, it is now a bit easier to find workers with good interpersonal skills, according to the New York Fed story.
Tip of the hat to Business Insider, which first noted the data.
Leave a Comment:
One of the things that drives me up the friggin' wall about being an East Coaster and living in California is punctuality. NOBODY out here seems to know what it means to show up on time! There are very few legitimate excuses for being late; if you've been on the job for a week, that's enough time to know how long it takes you to get ready, how long the commute is, and what kind of hazards might slow you down on the way to work.
I had at least three visits with a doctor last year--early-morning 9 a.m. visits, as the first one on her calendar. She was at least an hour and a half to two hours late for each visit, and she kept calling the office, updating the receptionists on her commute and apologizing to me for being late. By the time she finally made it there, three of her other patients had arrived and were waiting for her... and they clearly needed her for more pressing medial reasons than I had, so I just walked out.
Also, I do temp typing work, and I run in to the same situation with the professor that I take dictation from. I'm there at his office early, every time, yet he'll be over an hour late and then not be ready to work for a good 15-30 minutes while I'm sitting in the office. Thus I'm sitting in my vehicle or outside the office, waiting for him to arrive and/or be ready to get started. Or, worse yet, there are frequent cancellations and then I don't get the opportunity to work at all.
(Lovely little glitch in the system. I got two messages on at once.)