CLC IN THE NEWS

BY MISTY CHALLY - September 24, 2025

"The Trump administration’s workforce strategy sets a bold agenda with emphasis on apprenticeships, mobility, accountability, and innovation. The WOTC could accelerate progress toward the administration’s goals. Congress and the administration should champion this as a centerpiece of its workforce strategy and prevent the decades-old credit from expiring. It would help employers struggling to find talent and open the door of opportunity to millions of Americans eager to work."

BY MISTY CHALLY - July 17, 2025

Immigration isn’t an emergency to be managed. It is an asset to be mobilized — strategically, lawfully and transparently. Businesses large and small are ready to hire, train and invest in their workforce but they cannot do so amid such uncertainty. Our workforce — including those who are here legally, have worked hard and support the economy — deserve better. And so do U.S. employers.

BY MISTY CHALLY - July 16, 2025

On behalf of the nation’s leading employers — and all those who have been impacted by the labor shortage, we urge Congress to follow Smucker’s lead and extend and expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit so that it continues to bridge the gap between potential workers and the employers who desperately need them.

BY MISTY CHALLY - May 13, 2025

In Virginia, this problem is pronounced. According to analysis by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are approximately 243,000 job openings in the commonwealth, but only 113,102 unemployed workers. That means if every unemployed person got a job, there would still be nearly 130,000 job openings left unfilled. Beyond the recent federal layoffs, contributing factors to the labor shortage include early retirements, declining immigration, limited child care access, and shifting worker priorities. As labor participation lags, businesses face growing hiring difficulties, underscoring the urgent need for policies that attract and retain talent in today’s evolving job market.

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Critical Labor Coalition Executive Director Misty Chally said the nation is facing an "intensifying" labor shortage and a declining supply of American workers. To address this crisis and support these essential workers, Chally emphasized that it is "essential" to create pathways for legal immigration.

JULY 17, 2024

A network of trade associations and companies aimed at pushing through policies to address the country’s labor shortages is rolling out a new campaign imploring Congress to take up a set of bills aimed at alleviating shortages by easing immigration restrictions on migrant workers and asylum seekers and beefing up a tax credit to incentivize hiring. The push comes from the Critical Labor Coalition, whose members include the American Hotel Lodging Association, the National Association of Convenience Stores, the National Restaurant Association, the Society for Human Resource Management and the International Food Distributors Association as well as companies like Chipotle and the parent companies of fast food chains Burger King, Popeye’s, KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

October 2, 2024

The labor shortage in the restaurant industry is not only a persistent issue but one that is expected to worsen. According to a recent survey highlighted in Tech.co, 62% of restaurant owners anticipate the labor shortage will continue or get worse over the next year. This aligns with the findings from Resume Builder, which indicate that nearly 30% of full-time workers, particularly in the service industry, plan to quit their jobs by the end of 2024. As restaurant owners grapple with the current staffing challenges, these projections underscore the urgency for effective solutions to attract and retain workers in the industry.