By Bridget Nash Staff Writer
It’s either famine or famine.
In a good economy, Enid’s staffing companies have more businesses looking for employees than workers looking for jobs.
In a not-so-good economy, such as the economic slowdown facing Oklahoma today, Enid’s staffing companies have more workers looking for jobs than businesses looking for employees.
But if officials at Enid’s staffing companies had to choose, they probably would choose a “famine” of workers rather than a “famine” of jobs.
“We have plenty of people available and looking for jobs,” said Darren Janes, general manager of TPI Staffing Service. “We’d love to find everyone a job.”
Janes said TPI Staffing has seen about a 50 percent increase in people seeking jobs, but part of the increase is due to the company’s new location.
“Our foot traffic has increased drastically just from the move,” said Maryln Stemle, office manager of TPI Staffing.
Express Employment Profes-sionals, formerly known as Express Personnel, also has noticed an increase in workers looking for employment and a decrease in employers seeking workers.
“The labor part is slower right now because there have been a lot of layoffs,” said Michelle Seek, office manager of Express Employment Professionals.
The shift has been a recent one.
“Four to eight months ago, people couldn’t find anyone to work,” said Seek.
Seek and Express Employment business development professional Cindy Tubbs said companies also are looking for fewer workers to fill permanent positions and are requesting more workers for temporary positions and special projects.
“I think people are a little leery of hiring on permanent employees at this time,” said Tubbs.
As economists keep promising a turn-around is right around the corner, Enid’s staffing company officials also are eager to help more people find work.
“Everybody is ready for it to turn around, everybody is ready for it to pick up,” said Stemle. “It’s like waiting for Santa Claus.”
Janes said there has been a glimmer of hope in what is generally TPI Staffing’s “slow season.”
“In the last three to four weeks we have seen an increase in clients seeking (workers),” he said.
“We’ve picked up new accounts,” Stemle said.
Even in hard times, there are some bright spots in the difficult job of helping Enid’s residents find employment.
At Express Employment officials have been able to network and expand their contact with businesses and workers.
“The relationship-building part has been the best part of what’s going on,” Tubbs said.
Stemle said TPI Staffing has been able to help many people get back on their feet and has seen reliable hard workers come from “all walks of life” to find employment through their services.
“ We’ve had some real success stories,” Stemle said. “You see their little kids come in with new shoes. You see the difference in the employee. They take pride in their appearance, they have more self-worth.”
Stemle said TPI Staffing has been able to help all kinds of people.
“They could be homeless and living in their car or they could have a PhD,” Stemle said.
“You never know who is going to be your best worker,” Janes said.
