There’s no denying the way people work has dramatically changed since the beginning of the pandemic.
Worker shortages and changes to labor law in Delaware have created problems throughout the state, with some workers unable to find jobs they qualify for, and leaving employers with a lack of applicants.
Delaware Department of Labor Secretary Karyl Hubbard says working on converting Delaware’s workforce into something that fits the state’s current needs is a major goal for the department.
“People think of the Department of Labor as the unemployment office," says Hubbard. "And I like to say we're the employment office; because we do everything employment related. And so we’re gonna try to get some bus ads out there, some billboards, just reminding people that there are opportunities for them to connect to work; and let employers know that there are employees out there, job seekers out there looking for work.”
Hubbard says part of the solution is bringing an equity first lens to the issue.
“Guess what, we need everybody, right? We’ve got a deficit in employees now — so it’s important that we re-engage people who might have gotten discouraged," she says. "You know, we’re just trying to reflect the fact that people have options.”
Hubbard says she likes to view the current labor situation as a worker rearrangement, rather than a shortage, where many are looking at where they fit into the economy.
That’s why the department is focused on increasing job training -- to get people ready to take jobs employers are struggling to fill.
And through the equity lens, Hubbard says ensuring all types of Delawareans get hired, and employers connect with a wide variety of qualified applicants.
