Major Disruptions

There’s no one reason for the global supply chain woes. A quick recap from economic analysis firm ECONorthwest: Initially, major exporters had to close factories to slow spread of infection and that hampered supply of many goods. U.S. manufacturers also anticipated a sharp downturn in the spring of 2020 and canceled orders, triggering a supply shock. Goods became scare, prices rose.  
 
Consumer behavior also made a major shift. By mid-2020, many people — stuck at home and with extra money — bought more stuff, such as furniture, electronics, and home improvement goods. It was an unprecedented situation; businesses and suppliers didn’t have time or ability to adjust. That resulted in back-orders, crammed ports, not enough trucks (or drivers), and rising prices.  

Economist Bill Conerly points out that imports have actually increased over 2019 levels, but spending grew even faster. He expects gradual improvements in delivery times and reliability in 2022.   
 
Businesses should see a gradual improvement of supply chain fluidity as companies play catch up. The anticipated shift in consumer spending from goods to services may also help ease some of the pressure on the system. But businesses would be wise to learn their lessons from 2020 and 2021 and reevaluate their sourcing, inventory, manufacturing, and pricing strategies. 

Conerly expects that hiring will become a little easier in 2022 — but just a little. The greatest gains will come to those companies that prioritize employee retention and recruitment.  
 
ECONorthwest said ongoing concerns about COVID exposure in the workplace and childcare availability are still factors leading to short supply. Increased workloads and burnout are a big part of the “Great Resignation” too.  
 
The firm said the fight against the virus will shape the 2022 labor landscape. If COVID-19 shifts from a pandemic to endemic situation, the workforce participation should rise and market for labor should loosen. However, if a new variant emerges, expect more of the same challenges in the year ahead.  
 
Workplace safety, including clear distancing and contact tracing protocol, will remain important for businesses to keep in place until the virus is under control. And companies will have to invest in better compensation packages to attract hesitant workers, particularly in the high-need industries such as leisure, hospitality, and retail. Employers will have to offer flexible but predictable schedules, along with signing bonuses and other incentives.  

Companies will also need to evolve in terms of culture and expectations. “In past generations, the expectation was that it was largely an employee’s responsibility to adapt to an established company culture,” said ECONorthwest. “Today, employers need to adapt as well as listen more carefully to the desires of their staff.”  
 
The firm also said that businesses that pivoted from office to remote work benefited from carrying over the existing networks and personal relationship that existed before the pandemic. That social capital is harder to maintain or grow in a fully remote environment, and employers will rebuild relationship through a hybrid model.