The year ahead in hiring: ‘It takes three to six months to find a qualified person’

YARMOUTH, Maine – A resounding majority of respondents to a recent HME Newspoll say they expect to hire in 2025, a potential sign their companies are growing, but they also say they have their work cut out for them. 

Nearly 90% of respondents say they plan to hire this year and, of those, 96% say they expect to face challenges, like “no shows” for interviews. 

“Like many businesses in our area, our experience is that only about 30% of applicants respond to requests for an interview,” wrote Craig Rae of Penrod Medical Equipment in Salisbury, N.C. “About 50% of those that respond and schedule an interview don’t show up. They don’t call to cancel; they just don’t show up. We’re finding that it takes about three to six months to find a qualified person.” 

The majority of respondents say they have plans to hire delivery technicians (44%) and customer service representatives (30%), followed by clinicians like RTs and ATPs (11%), management professionals (7%), billing staff (4%) and other positions (4%). 

Respondents say lack of qualifications (36%) is the No. 1 reason they’re having difficulty hiring, followed by lack of consensus on pay/salary (29%) and other reasons (21%), including candidates who want work-from-home or hybrid environments. The remaining 14% say there is a lack of applicants. 

“We’re currently seeking a delivery technician and an additional customer service representative to help manage our increasing volume,” wrote one respondent. “However, we are facing challenges as many applicants expect high salaries, which is difficult for our business, given our minimal profit margins. Additionally, the steps involved in processing and delivering orders are extremely time-consuming, adding to our operational difficulties.” 

Some respondents say they plan on hiring this year not because of growth but because of high turnover, particularly in their billing departments. With hiring difficult, they plan to lean on technology to do more with less. 

“(We’re) hoping to find a few qualified professionals and use AI to support their work,” wrote one respondent.  

Other respondents aren’t necessarily looking to hire. Instead, they’re planning to double down on the employees they have. 

 “We are more focused on building our internal leaders to lift all boats,” wrote one respondent. “We have a young team that is set to grow, and their growth will be our growth.”