Work burnout. Tired exhausted female employee feeling energy depletion or exhaustion, overworked stressed female putting head down on table, suffering from chronic job stress. Overwork concept

Companies need more employees to manage their workload, but many aren’t hiring, according to a recent survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. Overall, 60% of companies said they don’t have enough employees to handle their workload. The problem is greater for companies with more than 500 employees (71%) than for those with fewer than 500 employees (48%).

Even though they need help, many of these companies aren’t hiring:

  • 48% of respondents said their companies have adjusted their recruiting/hiring strategy
  • 42% said their company is waiting to see if workload will level out
  • 32% said their upper management hasn’t approved more hires
  • 30% said they don’t have the budget this year

Recession fears and inflation are two of the main factors holding companies back. However, Texas Express franchise owner Nancy Reed urges employers to think longer-term — more employees are returning to the workforce, which will ease competition for candidates.

“Those employers who can budget, hire, and train workers now that competition is not as fierce will be more than ready to take on the business when things turn,” she said in a press release. “Employees who weren’t ready to return to the workforce are now considering the search because they are worried that there will be more competition if they wait longer.”