As businesses try to bounce back from the pandemic, many are struggling to find workers.Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in WisconsinAssistant operations director at Metcalfe's Market, Lisa Grudzielanek, said she's never seen anything like it before."It is the worst it's ever been," she said Thursday.The market in Wauwaotsa has been feeling an employee shortage."There may be a week where we don't get any applicants and we've never had that experience in the past," Grudzielanek said.As WISN 12 News recently reported, the Milwaukee-area restaurant industry has been among the hardest hit.But it's happening across the retail landscape.One Ace Hardware store in Wauwatosa recently launched a marketing blitz after no one applied for its open jobs."Typically, pre-COVID, we would get constant applications, especially in the spring. But it just doesn't seem like there's a lot of people out there looking," manager Kevin Fink said.BizTimes Editor Andrew Weiland pointed to a number of possible causes, including extended unemployment benefits for those out of work or people uncomfortable returning to jobs during the pandemic. "They are struggling to find people to fill open positions," he said.But whatever the reason, Weiland said businesses will likely have to adjust to address their staffing shortages."If you're not getting employees to come in the door, the simple solution is you need to pay more and if you're still not getting them to come in the door, you need to pay even more," he said.Some retailers like Menards are now advertising increased hourly wages for some jobs.Metcalfe's and others are offering signing bonuses, of up to $500 for new hires in certain jobs."All of these incentives are trying to make it more enticing to come back to work," Grudzielanek said. "We thought that would help but it's yet to show promise."Businesses that can't fill those jobs may have to change the way they do things. Metcalfe's said it has retooled its operation to adjust to those staffing shortages. They're stepping up the hiring efforts, even offering $200 referral bonuses to current employees who help recruit new workers.The labor department reported 498,000 new unemployment claims last week. That marks the first time during the pandemic that the number has been below half a million.Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISNGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube