Expect longer wait times and unstocked shelves to become familiar features at stores in New Jersey, as elsewhere. Many retailers are scrambling to find workers as shoppers prepare to check off their holiday gift lists.
Rafi Rachman said he closed a boutique in Ridgewood because he couldn’t find workers — outside of his family — to staff it. He still has a boutique in Montclair, but said that staffing has been a problem there too.
Economist Jack Kleinhenz of the National Retail Federation says being understaffed could really hurt businesses that are projected to have record growth this holiday season, up 8.5% to 10.5% from last year. Many business owners were already worried because they can’t find regular staff, let alone seasonal workers to meet the fast-approaching higher holiday demand.
