Help wanted

Help wanted signs locally point to a larger problem across the nation as businesses struggle to find qualified employees to fill empty spots after a year that already had difficulties due to the global pandemic. Brian Thompson, president of Lebanon REDI (Regional Economic Development Incorporated) mentioned that several factors most likely played into the worker shortage. Adjustments during the pandemic saw people working remotely and dealing with virtual schooling and the childcare issues that accompanied that. As a result, many are not wanting to go back to work away from home. Extended unemployment benefits have no doubt contributed to the worker shortage as well, Thompson added. “There’s so many different factors that have put us in this situation. We already had challenges finding new people and this last year made it extremely difficult. It’s really an across-the-board nationwide problem right now,” said Thompson. For more on this story see Saturday's LCR.