As Hawaii’s most populated city, Honolulu is synonymous with the state and all it has to offer, from beautiful beaches and world-class restaurants to corporate offices for major companies and important military outposts to help provide a first line of defense.

All these industries converging on Honolulu means it’s a city where jobs are always in demand, on both sides of the hiring and job seeking coin. For employers, especially in industries that are still trying to recover from the pandemic nearly five years ago, it can be difficult to find the skilled candidates you need for your open positions, whether you’re in the hospitality industry, information technology or countless others.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) have found that employment growth can be found in healthcare and IT sectors, up at least 3.6% for healthcare along and IT roles expanding at a rapid pace as more companies are looking to scale up and shore up their digital transformation and online capabilities while also making their online presence more secure. Unfortunately, the hospitality industry, including restaurants and hotels, and retail are still trying to deal with staffing shortages that began to take a big hit during the pandemic at its peak in early to mid-2020.

Overall, general labor force participation has decreased at a rate of about 1% year-over-year, meaning fewer people are looking for work or are available to be hired.

However, there is room to be optimistic, and it is possible to find the qualified candidates you need to make your organization successful and strong as we get deeper into 2025.

Consider upskilling your employees.

If you’re having a hard time finding candidates with the skills you need, the fastest course of action might be to look within. If you have employees who have shown an interest and competency in other areas of your business, consider promoting from within after offering some training opportunities. If you work in hotels, for example, cross-train your team so people who work in the restaurant can also help take reservations during busy periods. Everyone on your team should be able to pitch in and take calls; some might find they’re especially adept at it and enjoy that kind of customer interaction. In IT, where technology changes faster than most can keep up, determine if there are members of your team who want to learn different and additional skills to allow them to advance their career. They’ll get on-the-job training while you boost your internal capabilities without losing your current pace.

Tap into the local market.

Whatever industry you’re in, there are likely LinkedIn or other professional groups for your speciality. Form partnerships with those organizations to help with recruitment, training, and marketing of your open positions and to find the employees you’re looking for. Work with vocational schools, colleges, special career development programs to create relationships that can double as job pipelines: Institute on-site, hands-on training programs for students to provide them real-world experience while satisfying class credits and learning the skills they’ll need to be successful in your organization, providing a beneficial return on investment for you and the new hire alike.

Work with Bishop & Company.

As a Local Honolulu-based business, Bishop & Company is a staffing firm that understands what your organization is looking for in a job candidate. We know how important it is to find a qualified candidate that shares your values and goals for the future and we can help you find those candidates quickly.

By working with Bishop & Company, you’ll have dedicated staffing experts ready to jump into action whenever you need a new hire, someone who understands exactly what you’re looking for and the characteristics that make someone a good fit for your organization. We measure our success by our clients’ satisfaction, and we won’t rest until we come through for our clients. With experts specializing in diverse industries, Bishop & Company is standing by and ready to help you find your next great candidate. We can post your job description, screen applications, conduct initial interviews, and pass along the applicants we think best fit your needs. You still have the ultimate say! If you’re looking for a direct hire or a temporary team to help increase your staffing during a busy period, Bishop & Company is ready to get to work for you.

If you’re ready to learn more about how Bishop & Company can be the hiring tool you need to address staff shortages and find qualified candidates, reach out to us today.