According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are 11.3 million job openings in the U.S., but only 6 million unemployed workers. At the height of the pandemic, more than 120,000 businesses temporarily closed, and more than 30 million U.S. workers were unemployed.
The American Rental Association (ARA) has established initiatives aimed at addressing the labor challenges facing the rental industry and those industries closely aligned. The initiatives are focused on promoting the rental industry as a desirable career path for those already in the workforce and developing awareness and understanding of the rental industry among future job candidates.
Job openings are cross promoted on a national network of job sites to reach a wider candidate pool. The ARA Job Portal also allows all job seekers to upload a resume, set up job alerts by keyword, location, industry, or job function and apply directly for job openings with ARA member businesses.
For the first time, ARA is offering a two-year student membership at no cost. Student membership offers access to the ARA Job Portal, inclusion in ARA's Young Professionals Network where they can connect with peers currently working in the industry, and access to training documents and courses to earn certifications for head-start on a rental career.
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“The ARA is trying to add rental careers to the conversation as students begin to consider future career paths,” said James Auerbach, ARA Vice President, Event Segment and Rental Industry Workforce Development. “The more we expose young people to the financial potential and advancement opportunities of working in equipment and event rental businesses, the more interest we will see from young professionals pursuing a career within the rental industry.”
The pandemic has placed a spotlight on employee satisfaction and workplace culture. Work-life balance was once a buzzword and now has become an expectation of the modern workforce. Businesses that elevate and prioritize the employee experience and culture will see positive results in attracting and retaining quality employees.
“We’re seeing a movement of businesses upgrading facilities, break rooms, and work areas with more amenities to improve employee morale by giving people a place to go to work that they can be excited about,” said Auerbach.
