But only 9.5 million people were unemployed that same month.

 

That’s one simple way to explain why its so hard to hire right now.

 

Finding applicants with the right skills and in the right place make it all the harder, while a child care crisis (and worries about the fall school year) keeps many out of the job market too.

 

From 2000 to 2018, there were more unemployed workers than available jobs.

 

But by 2018 the unemployment rate pushed toward a 50-year low, notes the Wall Street Journal.

 

And that’s the other big part of the story: Our employers were already having trouble filling jobs before the pandemic due to what one study labels a demographic drought. 

 

Baby boomer retirements, a decline in college enrollments, the lowest birth rates in U.S. history and restrictive immigration policies have made our labor pool too small to be sustainable. 

 

 

A reminder to Newton-based employers that the City of Newton in partnership with MassHire Metro South/West and the chamber is offering cash incentives of up to $1,000 to any currently unemployed and underemployed individuals who secure a job in Newton.

 

Newton-based employers must register their business here. Other requirements and details are available on our website. We've also made flyers in English and Spanish to share with job applicants.

 

Credit to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller for allocating federal ARPA dollars for this initiative.

 

Also, note that Mass Hire is hosting a Massachusetts Virtual Job Fair next week.

 

?Chamber member businesses can also post jobs for free on our website.

 

 

 

Slowly but surely some Greater Boson area restaurants and bars are doing what local leaders have so far declined to do: Require customers to provide proof of vaccines.

 

But leaving it to businesses to enforce vax rules can be confusing and stressful for businesses and their employees, writes Boston Magazine’s Spencer Buell.

 

Then there’s the flood of angry emails, voicemails, nasty online comments and suspect one-star reviews for businesses that are only trying to protect their workers and clients.

 

“...there’s all forms of hatred and comments calling us communists and saying this is a violation of their privacy rights, or that it’s discrimination,” one owner tells Buell.

 

Vaccine-requiring restaurants told Buell they’re hoping "more of their peers follow their lead, or that officials do something—anything—to help."

 

Wondering if you should be dining indoors at all? The Washington Post offers these insights.

 

 

 

In early 2021, the Biden administration pledged to do more to connect Black and Latin-owned businesses, as well as the smallest business owners to the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program.

 

New data shows that they were successful.

 

PPP loans reached a far more diverse set of business owners in 2021 than it had in 2020, reports Andy Medici for the BBJ.

 

 

The Newton City Council agreed with a request by the chamber and others last night to send a home rule petition back to committee. Globe story here.

 

The petition seeks approval to require new buildings and major renovation projects to use electricity instead of fossil fuels for heating, cooling and hot water systems.

 

The chamber does not yet have a position on this item. But we were concerned that the issue was moving forward for a vote without broad input.

 

We appreciate that the council honored our request and look forward to allowing our businesses and nonprofits an opportunity to understand and share views on the proposal. 

 

 

 

Are you looking to launch a training program for your employers? Are you a trainer who works with employers? 

 

The Commonwealth Corporation’s Express Program provides employers with fast, simple access to grant-funded training. The program will reimburse 100% of the training per individual for businesses with 100 employees or less. Details.

 

Trainers go here to become a registered vendor

 

 

CIC Health has decided to keep its COVID test site at the Riverside MBTA station open. Search for other COVID-19 test sites by zip code here. 

 

 

 

Check out the new feature Wellesley Public Media has rolled out for its select board and other public meetings.

 

The service provides closed captions of public meetings which then, dig this, become searchable.

 

Try it here. Type “restaurants” into the search bar on the right you’ll instantly go to the recent select board discussion about relaxing Wellesley's dining rules.

 

For those of us who spend too many hours waiting for a certain agenda item to come up at a municipal meeting, this is a godsend.

 

The Swellesley Report has more.

 

 

Yes, that was Newton native Phil Lipof on ABC’s “Good Morning America” the other day.

 

After 25 years reporting and anchoring in local news rooms, Lipof has moved to ABC News. We’ll also be seeing him on “World News Tonight,” “Nightline” and anchoring on the streaming service ABC News Live.

 

After nearly two decades of reviewing film for Boston Globe, Ty Burr (a Pulitzer finalist who’s also a Newton guy) has left the Globe to launch a newsletter on Substack, helping us wade through films on all those streaming platforms. Try it, you’ll like it.

 

And best wishes to yet another Newton native, and long-time Needham resident, Andy Hoffman who after 40 remarkable years in sales leadership is retiring as General Sales Manager at WCVB Channel 5 in Needham.

 

 

Your team at the chamber is concentrating this week on some new strategic initiatives, including a new website. Barring any time sensitive updates, this will be my only newsletter this week. Be back in your in-box next Tuesday.

 

And that’s today’s Need to Knows, unless you need to know who one South Boston restaurant says you should blame for your slow service.

 

617-244-1688

 

Your chamber is here when you need us.