The so-called “worker shortage” has been a ticking time bomb for about twenty years. Around that time, many companies decided to save money by cutting leadership (and personal development) training.
Bottom line results were impressive.
But it was short-sighted. We do not have a worker shortage. We have a shortage of solid mid-level leaders. A lot of unqualified people have “manager” in their title.
Where employees do not see themselves as valued team members and their unique gifts integrated into their jobs, cynicism sets in.
Don't blame the entry level workers. Don't blame their immediate supervisors for the failure of senior leadership to give them the tools to do their job.
The boardrooms and top executives need to move their focus beyond quarterly earnings.
A healthy long-term healthy American economy demands it.