2023 State of the Hourly Workforce: Businesses Must Embrace Intelligent Automation to Give Employees the Flexibility They’re Demanding
August 29, 2023
by Kristin Brennan
According to a recent report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in the United States remains at 3.6%, close to the 3.5% pre-pandemic unemployment rate seen at the end of 2019, the lowest rate since 1969. However, the retail, food services, and hospitality industries continue to face a labor shortage. There could be a mass exodus of hourly employees in the coming year. More than 62% of hourly employees plan to leave their jobs within the next 12 months. The high attrition rate among hourly employees isn’t new. Many employers face the challenge of replacing their entire staff within a single year. What is particularly concerning is that of the hourly employees who plan to quit their jobs within the next year, 64% plan to leave their current industries.
These jobs have become undesirable for millions of employees, which puts the businesses that have come to rely on a robust workforce at risk. As a result, employers are turning to even younger workers to fill the gap, which comes with unique challenges, including stringent minor labor laws and a workforce with many other priorities. With this ongoing labor shortage, the balance of power has permanently shifted to the hourly employee.
What makes hourly jobs so difficult for employees and their managers? What can employers do to optimize labor efficiency and maximize employee engagement? This new study conducted by Propeller and commissioned by Legion surveyed 1,513 hourly workers and 628 managers in North America to answer these questions. This report provides actionable insights to help businesses maximize labor efficiency and improve the experiences of 76.1 million hourly workers and managers.
Download the report, “2023 State of the Hourly Workforce,” to learn the answers, including:
- The new rules for recruiting and retaining hourly employees.
- The biggest challenges managers face and how employers can help address them.
- How intelligent automation can improve manager productivity.
Interested in learning more? Contact us to talk about how Legion can help you transform labor operations and deliver a better employee experience through intelligent automation powered by Legion WFM.