{
  "id": 9364753,
  "title": "America’s Labor Shortage Is Bigger Than the Local Hiring Pool | Opinion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/americas-labor-shortage-is-bigger-than-the-local-hiring-pool-opinion",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-23T15:59:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/americas-labor-shortage-is-bigger-than-the-local-hiring-pool-opinion-12476549"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The labor shortage in America is not simply a result of inadequate local recruitment efforts, but also stems from a lack of considering global talent as an integral part of workforce planning. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, 35 percent of small business owners reported having unfilled job openings in August, and 82 percent of those who were hiring or trying to hire reported few or no qualified applicants. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 7.3 million job openings in July.\n\nThis mismatch between the people businesses need and their search methods is not limited to a few struggling companies, but rather a persistent issue across various industries. When businesses fail to secure workers locally, they often resort to temporary staffing solutions, which eventually lead to turnover, repeated training, and scheduling challenges.\n\nStructured employment-based pathways to permanent residency, such as EB-3, offer a more sustainable solution. These pathways are designed for building a lasting workforce, rather than providing a quick fix. However, many companies overlook this option due to a mindset focused on local recruiting, benefits, compliance, and employee relations. Human resources departments may lack experience in international recruitment, leading to a reliance on familiar, short-term methods.\n\nThe consequences of continued reliance on short-term fixes include time and money lost through turnover, repeated training, recruitment bottlenecks, and unfilled positions. These issues can hinder business growth and customer satisfaction. A more effective approach involves building durable talent pipelines, providing workers with a realistic path to long-term employment, and allowing communities to benefit from residents who are putting down roots.\n\nTo address persistent vacancies, CEOs and HR leaders are encouraged to conduct a global workforce review, identifying which positions are truly temporary and which represent permanent business needs. By evaluating all lawful recruitment pathways before defaulting to temporary solutions, companies can build a workforce that meets their actual needs. This shift in mindset is crucial as the labor market continues to evolve, and businesses must adapt to build the workforce they require.",
  "summary": "Businesses keep searching for workers within the same narrow geographic circles, then wonder why they cannot fill essential jobs.",
  "key_points": [
    "35% of small business owners reported having unfilled job openings in August.",
    "82% of hiring businesses reported few or no qualified local applicants.",
    "Structured employment-based pathways offer sustainable workforce solutions."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}