West Michigan’s Job Market is HOT!
It’s summertime, and it’s not just the weather that’s hot—so is the job market! West Michigan employers need to fill jobs now, and they are offering some great perks to attract talent.
COVID has changed how companies recruit, hire, and retain staff. Job seekers can expect to participate in remote or virtual hiring processes, such as initial phone screenings and video interviews. Once you are on the job, you can expect more internal mobility, or opportunities to train and grow within the company.
You have probably noticed that some local businesses have had to cut hours or temporarily close their doors because of staffing shortages. West Michigan Works! focuses on understanding the talent needs of our region’s employers and connecting job seekers to available jobs. They have noticed the following hiring trends that make NOW a great time to rejoin the workforce!
Increased wages. This trend is being seen in all industries and is often by a few dollars per hour.
Bonus programs. West Michigan Works! staff have seen a lot of employers offering a variety of bonuses for new and current staff, including:
- Referral bonuses that reward current staff if their referral is hired.
- Retention bonuses compensate current staff for staying on with a company for a defined period of time.
- Sign-on bonuses provide new staff an additional incentive to join a company. In West Michigan more companies are offering these types of bonuses and at increased rates (sometimes up to $2,500!).
- Bonuses for perfect attendance.
Increased training opportunities. Companies are speeding up their on-the-job training to get new staff up-to-speed faster and are upskilling current staff into more skilled, higher-paying positions.
Now is the time to take advantage of the hot job market! Check out the online Weekly Hot Jobs! list, which includes current job openings across West Michigan. The online list is organized by industry and sortable by county and job title.
