Companies have been becoming accustomed to a phenomenon that seems to occur after every dip in the economy, and is especially true after recessions such as the US experienced in 2008. Businesses need to make decisions that keep them in business, and one of those decisions is to reduce payroll and lay employees off. Frequently it’s not a matter of laying employees off, but in a reverse effort they simply don’t hire new people.

Over the past three decades, each recovery has gotten slower and slower, and this last one is trickling to a close at an unprecedentedly gradual rate. Each and every time it takes place, less and less individuals are returning to work because businesses are learning that they can do without. All businesses can do with less if forced to and it is a testament to how well they run in the degree of which they can do with less. Once they determine that they are able to run their business with less manpower, and do it properly and more important profitably, it is not easy to go back to the old days.

While the levels of management used to be as thick as a thick redwood forest, the layer between the bottom and the top has thinned out significantly over the years. Once these middle and upper middle management positions have been taken away and have been seen to ultimately be unnecessary, then they will not make their way back into the workforce. This leaves a number of people without work and unable to find what they are competent at and educated for.

» Read more: Tips on Running Efficient Business With Reduced Staffing