Every new year, it’s natural to review what we’ve accomplished and assess future challenges. As we begin 2023, the lack of qualified talent for open positions remains a major challenge for employers nationwide.

The American Staffing Association’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows the depth of this issue. Since mid-2021, there have been more than 10 million jobs that companies cannot fill. For perspective, that’s 1.7 job openings for every unemployed jobseeker!

In addition to this surplus of jobs, the U.S. is facing record inflation and general economic uncertainty. So how is so difficult to find employees?

The answer isn’t simple, but the return-to-office debate is a large part. Employees want more flexibility, while employers worry about the effects of remote work on both operations and company culture. This is a tricky balance that each company must handle based on its own circumstances.