More: Peers talk hiring

Last week's column opened a discussion of small business employment issues, including comments from an experienced attorney (Wessels Sherman's Jennifer Adams Murphy) and business owners who are part of the Women's Initiative coordinated by Diane Middlebrooks at Itasca (IL) Bank & Trust Co.

Here, edited for space purposes and without names because many of Middlebrooks' respondents asked to not be identified, is the completion of what Women's Initiative members said:

• I belong to several associations that share the same concerns. The manufacturing industry has a shortage of skilled workers. There is a lack of effective job training programs. Community colleges no longer offer classes for welding, injection molding, wood working and the like. The industry also is hurt by a negative perception students and their parents have toward manufacturing.

Finally, there is a lack of individuals willing to do jobs that include physical labor.

• I don't think it's harder to hire for professional positions. If you're a good employer who treats employees with respect - offering them benefits, flexibility and opportunities to grow their career - there are plenty of people who will leave their current jobs to come work for you. And there is still really good talent out there that is currently unemployed.

• We are usually looking for truck drivers doing local deliveries in the five-county area. The trucks are air-conditioned and modern. But young (18-40) people do not appear to want to drive trucks for a living any more.

We also look for experienced industrial supply sales people with a following in a related industry that can transition to shipping and janitorial supplies. The 18-40-year olds who have applied act quite entitled and are looking for enormous packages - such as a huge base, full benefits, long-term contract and more, when they have not yet proven themselves in our industry.

• Our business hasn't had to hire people the old-fashioned way, because we have a great network of people who know people looking for seasonal work.

In my old situation (when I was an employee, not an owner) we had a hard time finding experienced workers who had people skills and could work later in the evenings and on weekends.

That was the trifecta.

Today the hardest part of finding an employee is the "trifecta" but, on top of that, finding the right place to post the job. At our last meeting, I loved the idea of finding landscapers who would have free time in the off season.

• It's nearly impossible to find good employees. Around 10 years ago I ran an ad for a warehouse manager and had over 100 applicants. About three years ago I had an opening for an assistant warehouse manager and had around 25 applicants during a one-week period.

Today I run ads for warehouse help: No skill necessary; training; benefits; free all-day snacks and drinks; paid vacation and holidays; potential to move up.

I get maybe one applicant, sometimes none.

Have thoughts to share? Email me at the address below.

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