BJ Arrowsmith has been in the computer services business for more than 25 years in North Bay.
When he first started C E Computers and Networks, he never thought a lack of quality workers would force him to close his doors to residential service.
That has become Arrowsmith's reality starting this Monday.
The reason is he cannot find any experienced lead technicians to join the team that is already short staffed. Arrowsmith says he had nine technicians back before COVID-19 and now he is down to six and can't seem to find any replacements.
"It is simply a lack of skilled workers," noted Arrowsmith.
"We have been looking for staff for a while now, even pre-pandemic, but not as aggressively as we have in the last year."
Local advertising, social media, and the use of a headhunter service did not help Arrowsmith find qualified workers. He looked into hiring international workers but he says many did not want to move to a smaller community.
"Most of the responses were that they were not interested to relocating to the north," said Arrowsmith.
While the amount of workers has gone down, Arrowsmith says the workload has increased 100 to 200 per cent due to so many business people working from home.
That workload is hampering the ability for the computer business to service its corporate clients.
"Moving forward we are looking for two to three skilled workers at least and I just cannot find them," he said.
While there is an abundance of junior technicians coming out of school who are applying, Arrowsmith believes that doesn't fit with their situation.
"We don't have the resources to take on junior technicians because we have to train them," he said.
Arrowsmith is hoping with some good fortune, they will be able to find some experienced technicians and again be able to offer residential services and re-open their storefront.
"We don't want to do this, it is a temporary measure," said Arrowsmith.
