After the Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon, many enterprises resumed work one after another. However, what followed was the "labor shortage" and "recruitment difficulties" across the entire industry. As one of the representatives of traditional industries, the rosewood furniture industry also suffered from this dilemma, and in some areas, there even appeared a phenomenon where a large number of rosewood furniture enterprises were unable to resume normal operations.
If it were merely a lack of workers in traditional industries, then why did the "labor shortage" problem in many factories resolve itself by March? We can't help but ask, where did last year's workers go? Why do so many workers always delay returning to work for over a month?
Short-term interests clouding judgment
Recently, reporters visited Shaxi Town and Dayong Town in Zhongshan City and found that many rosewood furniture stores had job postings, but there was an interesting phenomenon: many workers would inquire about the wages after seeing the job postings and then leave to continue searching for the next "high-paying happiness point."
With economic development, the economic conditions of ordinary laborers have improved, and they have higher requirements when choosing jobs. Their desire to earn money has become stronger, which is understandable in itself. However, if workers overly focus on short-term interests and only choose companies based on wage levels, they may leave their current company for higher wages at any time. They even hope that through collective inaction, they can create a labor shortage for companies and thus raise industry wages. This not only burdens companies but is also detrimental to their own long-term stable development. "Many factories haven't officially started operations yet, and they are urgently recruiting workers. It's also quite difficult to hire workers, mainly because these workers have too many demands. Our company needs to survive too. If we meet their requirements, we'll only end up losing money," said a person in charge of a rosewood furniture enterprise in Dayong Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, introducing the company's current situation.
Short-term interests are indeed tempting, but often because of short-term gains, people lose something more precious. Throughout history, the phenomenon of "a single leaf blocking the view, unable to see the forest" has been common. Overemphasis on short-term benefits has become a prevalent mindset among workers in the rosewood furniture industry.
Lack of employee responsibility and industry ethics
"Now, our factory hasn't resumed operations yet. Lately, I've been busy having heart-to-heart exchanges and communications with each worker, hoping that we can trust each other and make our employees feel a greater sense of belonging to the company. After all, the term 'labor shortage' has spread in our industry, which could lead to instability among workers," said a boss of a rosewood furniture company in Shaxi Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, helplessly.
For a responsible employee, he or she will recognize the importance of his or her work within the organization and will regard the organization's goals as his or her own, striving for them. In helping the company achieve its goals, they also realize their own value. In the traditional industry of rosewood furniture, the low educational level of its workforce results in a lower overall quality, leading to weak professional ethics and a lack of work responsibility, making them easily swayed by external influences. Some workers habitually negotiate wages with companies, promoting the idea of "the highest bidder wins." Job-hopping becomes the norm, leaving employees with no sense of belonging to their current company and little concern for the overall state of the industry. They only think that places with high treatment and benefits are the way to survival.
In fact, the remuneration of workers is closely linked to the obligations and responsibilities they fulfill in their work. "Attitude determines everything," and conscientious employees gain greater opportunities and better treatment.
The industry faces a transition period
It is reported that the rosewood furniture industry does indeed face a "labor shortage" in certain trades, such as polishing and carpentry. Rosewood furniture is complex in structure, diverse in product types, and requires high standards in production. As a traditional industry, although the older generation of rosewood furniture masters possess excellent skills, they are reluctant to pass them on casually, usually limiting the transmission to their children or favorite disciples. This "single-line inheritance" method has led to the gradual disappearance of some exquisite techniques.
The rosewood furniture industry urgently needs skilled and highly proficient workers. Many workers, after acquiring excellent skills, see their wages soar, quickly accumulating funds. With skills and money, many naturally consider starting their own businesses. In the rosewood furniture industry, at least half of the company owners come from a background as workers, which has resulted in a loss of some skilled workers.
In recent years, post-80s have gradually become the mainstream of the working population, while post-90s are also joining the ranks. Post-60s and post-70s migrant workers are beginning to gradually withdraw. According to understanding, the hardworking spirit of post-80s and post-90s workers has significantly decreased, and many are unwilling to engage in traditional industries like rosewood furniture. Among the younger generation entering the rosewood industry, most are attracted by the high salaries in the woodworking industry, showing low stability and little knowledge of carpentry and rosewood culture. The artisanal temperament and spirit possessed by their grandparents' generation are even harder to find.
Conclusion:
The employment psychology of rosewood furniture workers exacerbates the "labor shortage" in this industry every year after the New Year. "Employees are a company's greatest wealth." Every employee is crucial to each company. They relate to the survival of the company, create value, and bring profits. The more reserved the attitude of employees towards the company and the less stable they are within the company, the lower the overall cohesion and efficiency of the company will be, hindering the healthy and rapid development of the company. (Source: China Classical Furniture Network, Elin)