The bounce back from the pandemic shutdowns isn’t in full swing just yet, and for one major reason: finding employees to fill needed positions in all types of roles.

Yet based on the unemployment rate and potential job seekers available locally, getting the people that businesses need immediately won’t be easy.

Last week, the Polk County Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Polk County College and Career Academy to provide businesses and potential employees the chance to meet up and leave with applications filled out and even a same-day hire.

Participating businesses like Chick-fil-A, Miura Boiler, F&P of Georgia, Quality Inn in Cedartown and many more took part in the Chamber and College and Career Academy event and several representatives told of how hard it is getting people to come and stay at work.

One owner told of how they have only half of the employees they need for full staffing during business hours. Another needs four employees to try and bring back balance to family life. Others are having trouble filling spots on assembly lines.

Businesses desperately need those employees, but based on Department of Labor figures for Polk County, it won’t be so easy even when offering bonuses and raises after just 30 days on the job.

During the start of shutdowns and mass layoffs to keep businesses of all kinds alive in April 2020, the state’s agency tracking unemployment claims and benefits put the rate at 12%, or 2,147 seeking benefits after losing their jobs.

A year later as of April, the rate sits at 3.3%, or just 608 claims filed with the state.

May figures won’t be available until later in the month for the local labor market, but the most recent statewide figures put the rate at 4.3%, a full percentage point higher than Polk County and 6.1% on the national level.

The figures coincide with an overall decrease in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths across Georgia that caused the downturn in the economic fortunes of the state in 2020, that saw billions paid out to millions laid off due to the pandemic.

To that end, the state decided last week that on June 27, pre-COVID rules for actively seeking employment to get benefits goes into effect again. Along with the change back to original rules, the additional $300 supplement is going away as well.

For those seeking a job, check out employgeorgia.com for listings statewide, and choosepolk.com for local listings.