"Stuck for staff"

Barrysplague

Having a debate over this phrase.

If someone told you that they were "stuck for staff", What do you think they mean?

Trojan

They can't find enough people at the intersection of the ability to do the job and the willingness to work at the pay levels they're prepared to offer.

connundrum

The employer requires x staff members.

The employer currently employs x - y staff members.

He/she is therefore 'stuck for staff'.

jimmii

I would think it would mean they were low on numbers.

pedronomix

I would not be a bit surprised if a person who used such a term to describe a staffing issues had a problem with managing the situation. Far too imprecise!

Lucena

It would mean they don't have enough staff, and as Trojan says, this may be because the poeple that have the desired skills are looking for too much money from the potential employer's point of view.

It's also possible that the people with a very specific skill set don't exist and anyone taken on would have to be trained on site.

It could also be part of a general "young people today don't want to work"-type rant.

The Corinthian

Could be anything. Any of the above or even that they're failing to get applications for whatever reason. Or they've hired a few and none have worked out (bad luck, poor hiring process/judgment, etc). Far too vague a claim to say.