Accessing hidden workers however, requires a shift in attitude. Even if they do get hired, they struggle to secure the number of hours or type of jobs they would like. But for companies with open positions-especially those positions that are essential to business success and are hard to fill - these workers are a crucial, underutilized resource. With repeated rejections, many get frustrated and abandon the search for work altogether. Because these individuals don’t fit the profile of “the perfect candidate,” they struggle to make the cut for even an interview-leave alone getting steady jobs. We called these workers “hidden workers” because they are a talent pool in plain sight with the potential to be hired, but for one reason or another are unable to make the transition into the workforce. In June 2019, for example, employers posted 7.3 million job openings - while more almost 12 million working-age Americans were unemployed or underemployed At the time, we were intrigued by the skills gap companies complained of, even as millions of Americans were out of work or wanted more steady, stable employment. In 2019, well before Covid-19 shut down the global economy, HBS’ Project on Managing the Future of Work joined with Accenture to embark on a research journey to understand this group - particularly those who want to work but have been shut out of the workforce, or those with a job who could work more hours under the right circumstances.
While the pandemic help illuminated these gaps, they’re not new. It also revealed that low- and middle-skills workers in particular were acutely vulnerable when large swaths of the economy suddenly shut down today, these individuals may be less likely to find stable work after a layoff and more likely to struggle paying their bills, rent, or mortgage compared to higher-skills workers. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed who the real “essential” workers are - often low- and middle-skills workers like grocery store employees, health care aides who care for Covid-19 patients separated from their families, and warehouse workers who package and ship goods.
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