“We’re Hiring, But No One’s Applying”: A Wake-Up Call from North Dakota Employers
At North Dakota Businesses United (NDBU), we hear the same concern echoed by small businesses, professional offices, manufacturers, and service providers across the state: “We have open positions—but we’re not getting applicants.” This isn’t a niche problem. It’s a systemic one. And it’s leaving business owners exhausted, overextended, and deeply concerned about the future of their operations.
The recently released ND Workforce Ecosystem Final Report confirms what many in the business community already know: workforce challenges are no longer just about skills or education—they’re about alignment, availability, and ambition. While the report outlines a range of actionable strategies and long-term opportunities, many of its findings highlight a stark truth: the current ecosystem is not working for North Dakota’s employers.
What does that mean on the ground? It means qualified applicants are scarce, training pipelines are disconnected from real business needs, and wage pressure is rising faster than revenue. It means businesses in retail, trades, healthcare, and beyond are having to reduce hours, turn away customers, or burn out their remaining staff.
NDBU believes the solutions must be business-led and community-driven. That means helping employers innovate outside the traditional HR box. We’re championing mentorship models, strategic apprenticeships, shared workforce solutions between small businesses, and incentive structures that reward growth—not just credentials. But for these ideas to take hold, the state’s policymakers and economic leaders must start from the reality business owners live in every day.
Our goal is to make sure those voices are heard, respected, and equipped with the tools to not just survive—but to build something better. We invite you to read the full ND Workforce Ecosystem Report and then join us in building solutions that actually work for the businesses that keep North Dakota running. At NDBU, we’re hosting a state-wide event in January 2026, where we can use the power of connection to reinvent systems with ones that work in TODAY’s environment.
Let’s stop asking why people won’t apply—and start asking how we can make opportunity visible, viable, and valuable again.
Jan Wangler, Executive Officer 