A good economy means low unemployment and low unemployment means unfilled jobs and that translates to headaches for recruiters and business owners in Mission, Pendleton, and across the country.
The Oregon Employment Department reports that in June, Umatilla County had an unemployment rate of only 4.4 percent, one-tenth of a point lower than a year ago.
The state unemployment rate for July, 3.9 percent, is the lowest ever seen since employment data has been recorded. The consistently low numbers mean serious staffing difficulties for employers.
Small business owners are challenged since they likely serve as the entire human resources department and must take time away from running their businesses to recruit. They do, however, have fewer vacancies to fill and can be flexible with wages to attract qualified candidates.
While larger businesses may have one or more recruiters, they also have more positions to fill.
The second largest employer in Umatilla County, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), may have the toughest challenge in finding qualified candidates while filling a vast array of jobs, many of which require extensive background checks and pre-employment drug screens.
Dorothy Cyr, employment manager at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, said that the background check can be a barrier for some potential employees. Cyr also acknowledges, “It is hard to fill vacancies when applicants cannot find adequate housing.”
As of mid-August, Wildhorse had nine vacancies, Yellowhawk had 10, and Cayuse Technologies was advertising 14 jobs in Pendleton. The Tribal government offices had 33 vacancies posted online for jobs ranging from bus driver to web programmer to archeologist.
While it’s certainly good that jobs are plentiful and the economy is improving, finding qualified employees to fill the positions created by that growing economy is an arduous task.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the jobs available at the CTUIR and its entities, information can be found on the individual websites for each organization.
