Our Summer 2022 Hourly Hiring Report offers insights into the tightest labor market in recent history. Plus, what you need to know to beat the odds.

Overall, hourly jobs are up 197% compared to pre-pandemic norms, seeing an 8% month-over-month gain, and a 43% year-over-year growth. Google searches for hourly jobs are up 8% from this time last year.

Hindering what might otherwise be a very lucrative summer, US businesses continue to be challenged by a lack of workers. 

A case in point is Clancy’s restaurant in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, forced to cut back hours and turn away customers due to staff shortages. Ditto for Laughing Pets, an Atlanta-based dog-walking business. 

But help is here, as Snagajob has its finger on the pulse of hourly work. 

To help answer those staffing questions that keep you up at night, we went straight to the source. We asked 3,000+ hourly workers and their employers what has changed during the pandemic and what it takes to attract today’s new breed of workers. Here are some highlights from our Summer 2022 Hourly Hiring Report:

• 80% of workers plan to find a new job in 2022

• 66% of workers look first for “Flexible hours” when applying

• 46% of workers care more about “When” they work than “Where” they work

• 65% of businesses are now offering higher wages

Also highlighted in the report are action items businesses can take to realign hiring strategies with today’s evolving worker expectations.

Rethinking summer hiring strategies

With hopes of a fruitful summer top of mind for US businesses,  the challenge of finding enough workers remains a big priority.

Savvy companies are taking heed of the urgency to rethink their hiring playbook, as evidenced by McDonald’s unique tactic in Southern California. 

They recently held a Drive-Up Hiring Day where job seekers could drive up, with no prior scheduling needed, and get an interview on the spot. Without leaving their vehicle. It’s out-of-the-box thinking that helps reduce the negative impact of a severe labor shortage.

However, the effect of our labor shortage isn’t just impacting people at work. It’s also impacting parents’ pocketbooks when they shut it down for the day. A recent Wall Street Journal article notes that the cost of a babysitter is commanding up to $30 an hour (plus all the food delivery they want, to boot). 

No wonder it’s the best summer job market for teens in years. A fact covered extensively in a recent Insider article outlining the increased demand for Generation Z workers, as well as the before-mentioned Summer 2022 Hourly Hiring Report (did you know that 87% of teens are looking for summer work?).

It’s certainly something to consider when you’re looking to fill those summer positions.

While the job market is tight, don’t despair. Our research shows that workers are returning to the labor force as the pandemic eases, especially as inflation eats away at the financial security of those sitting on the sidelines (including those who recently retired). As Snagajob’s Summer 2022 Hourly Hiring Report points out, connecting with teens and Generation Z workers is also a step in the right direction. Over 70% of the Gen Z population is now looking for work. And you can make yourself stand out to Gen Z job seekers by addressing their wants, such as the fact that 60% consider “sharing social values” among their top 3 factors for choosing a company.

Jobs

All industry data is from 3/2/20-5/24/22

Here are the latest overall job numbers:

Overall hourly jobs are up 197% compared to pre-pandemic norms, seeing an 8% month-over-month gain, and a 43% year-over-year growth. Google searches for hourly jobs are up 8% from this time last year.

Here are the latest job numbers by industry:

Food & Restaurant jobs are up 35% compared to pre-pandemic norms, seeing a 5% month-over-month drop, and an 8% year-over-year decline.

Hotel & Hospitality jobs are up 79% compared to pre-pandemic norms, seeing a 16% month-over-month gain, and a 2% year-over-year growth.

Healthcare jobs are up 181% compared to pre-pandemic norms, seeing a 34% month-over-month gain, and a 52% year-over-year growth.

Retail jobs are up 53% compared to pre-pandemic norms, seeing a 1% month-over-month gain, and a 17% year-over-year growth.

Warehouse & Production jobs are up 1221% compared to pre-pandemic norms, seeing a 74% month-over-month gain, and a 180% year-over-year growth.

Workers

Google searches for hourly jobs are up 8% year-over-year.

The bottom line

We’ll continue to be your best resource for hourly job market insights as we collectively navigate towards our new normal and beyond.

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