Staff shortage in all sectors

All industries are in need of staff, and this has a negative effect on the quality in the private and public sectors alike.

The staff shortage is also causing stress in the working population, as the burden on employees continues to grow – and in the end this also affects the consumer.

A massive problem

This is a problem in all areas in the country and it permeates all of society, according to Marita Rasmussen, CEO of the House of Industry.

“This is a massive problem. When businesses contact us, the desperate staff shortage is always a main topic,” she says.

“Two years ago, the problem was mainly within the construction and manufacturing industries, but today it is a problem across the board, in all industries.”

Staff shortage affects quality

Employers are spending a lot of time and energy on looking for staff, and that can easily remove the focus from what the companies’ primary objectives, she says.

“Since it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the right workers for the job, the quality of the output can easily suffer.”

Many employers are now looking abroad for staff, and that creates new challenges regarding work permits and communication difficulties, she adds.

According to the latest Statistics Faroe Islands figures from April, there are 358 full-time unemployed people in the country.

Translated by prosa.fo