Overcome Shift Work Obstacles with Reliable Staffing Solutions

Whether you’re in hospitality, construction, manufacturing and logistics, or retail, shift work keeps your business running 24/7. But finding reliable workers — especially for weekend and third shift hiring — can be a persistent challenge.

Unfilled shifts can lead to production delays, empty shelves, lost sales and employee burnout, all of which impact your bottom line. Add high turnover, unpredictable hours and a limited talent pool to the mix, and it’s even harder to keep operations running smoothly.
To stay ahead, businesses must understand these challenges and adopt strategic staffing solutions. In this article, we’ll break down the impact of shift work shortages across key industries, the roles most affected and actionable ways to fill critical positions.

Day Shift (First Shift): 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Day shifts may seem easier to staff, but competition for employees is fierce. Many workers prefer these hours, making it tough to identify top talent. Employees also face personal challenges that can affect their availability, such as finding reliable childcare or dealing with heavy traffic during peak commute times.

Nearly every company needs to fill day shifts, so securing dependable workers requires customized staffing solutions for some of the most common day shift jobs in the hospitality, construction, manufacturing and logistics, and retail industries:

Hospitality Day Shift Staff: In hospitality, food servers, bartenders, hosts, cooks and housekeepers are vital for delivering seamless guest experiences during the day.

Construction Day Shift Staff: In construction, general and skilled laborers, carpenters, electricians and heavy equipment operators play a critical role in maintaining project timelines and keeping construction sites running efficiently.

Manufacturing & Logistics Day Shift Staff: Manufacturing and logistics businesses need first shift forklift operators, pickers and packers, machine operators and sorters to meet production quotas.

Retail Day Shift Staff: In retail, cashiers, customer service representatives, janitors/custodians and stockers ensure a seamless shopping experience all day.

While most hospitality, construction and logistics staffing agencies offer day shift support, finding a reliable temp agency that can quickly fill open shifts remains a  challenge.

That’s why many companies turn to PeopleReady. Backed by hundreds of local offices around the U.S., its next-gen staffing app, JobStack for Business, provides 24/7 staffing solutions. It helps you connect with qualified local workers to fill your day shift jobs in a few taps.

Second Shift (Swing Shift): 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Second shifts cover evening operations, but many employees avoid these hours due to family responsibilities, limited childcare options and safety concerns. However, when these shifts go unfilled, businesses face costly delays and operational disruptions.

Many companies rely on second-shift workers to keep operations running into the evening. Here are some of the most common second-shift roles in hospitality, construction, manufacturing and logistics, and retail.

Hospitality Second Shift Staff: In hospitality, second-shift roles like servers, concession workers, bartenders, cooks and housekeepers handle dinner or event crowds and late check-ins, helping maintain service quality during peak evening hours.

Construction Second Shift Staff: In construction, companies need second-shift workers, including carpenters, electricians and equipment operators to ensure tasks are completed safely and efficiently.

Manufacturing and Logistics Second Shift Staff: In manufacturing and logistics, roles such as forklift operators, machine operators, loaders and pickers are essential for sustaining production and avoiding costly disruptions.

Retail Second Shift Staff: In retail, evening cashiers, stockers and janitors keep the doors open and ensure the store is restocked and cleaned for the next day.

Finding staffing support for second shifts can be a unique challenge. With a reliable temp agency like PeopleReady, you’ll work closely with a team who knows the local market and understands the nuances of these industries. The JobStack app gives jobseekers the flexibility to choose shifts that fit their schedule and preferences, providing you with a pool of workers that are ready to fill your second shift openings.

Third Shift Hiring (Night Shift): 11:00 PM – 7:00 AM

Third shift hiring is essential for continuous operations, but overnight work disrupts sleep patterns, leads to fatigue and isolates employees from their regular social routines. In industries like hospitality, construction and manufacturing and logistics, third shift roles can often result in higher turnover and safety risks.

Despite these hurdles, many businesses rely on overnight support to maintain their workflow. Here are some of the most common third-shift jobs in hospitality, construction, manufacturing and logistics, and retail.

Hospitality Third Shift Staff: In hospitality, operations don’t stop at night. Workers like front desk staff, security personnel and overnight housekeepers are important for guest satisfaction and safety.

Construction Third Shift Staff: In construction, night crews help keep roadwork and infrastructure projects on track. Third shift construction workers, like flaggers, traffic control technicians and skilled tradespeople, take advantage of overnight hours when road traffic is at a minimum.

Manufacturing and Logistics Third Shift Staff: For manufacturing and logistics, forklift operators, machine operators, sorters and unloaders keep production moving overnight. When these roles go unfilled, delays can be costly.

Retail Third Shift Staff: In retail, stockers and custodians prepare stores for the next day. Falling short on people to staff these roles can impact the bottom line and result in more work for your first and second shift workers.

Businesses struggling with third shift hiring in these industries can benefit from customized staffing solutions. With a nationwide presence and innovative tools like the JobStack for Business app, PeopleReady helps employers find workers to cover critical third shift needs.

Weekend Shift: Saturdays and Sundays

Although weekend shifts are necessary for many businesses, finding employees who are willing to work over the weekend can be difficult. Without weekend coverage, crucial tasks may go unfulfilled and existing staff can become overworked.

Many businesses depend on dedicated workers to undertake weekend hours. Here are key weekend shift roles in hospitality, construction, manufacturing and logistics, and retail.

Hospitality Weekend Staff: In hospitality, weekend servers, concession workers, bartenders, cooks and housekeepers manage peak guest traffic — especially for events, concerts and other live entertainment that often occur over the weekend.

Construction Weekend Staff: In construction, projects often depend on weekend work to stay on schedule and avoid costly delays. The most common weekend construction roles are cleanup crews, flaggers, carpenters, electricians and other skilled tradespeople.

Manufacturing and Logistics Weekend Staff: For manufacturing and logistics, work doesn’t slow down on Friday at 5 p.m. Weekend forklift operators, pickers and loaders are essential for keeping supply chains moving 24/7.

Retail Weekend Staff: In retail, weekend cashiers, customer service representatives and stockers ensure shelves are stocked and customers are served.

Finding reliable workers for weekend shifts can often be a hurdle for businesses, but PeopleReady provides customized and emergency staffing solutions. With a national network and powerful tools like the JobStack for Business app, PeopleReady connects employers with reliable, local weekend workers to keep operations running smoothly.

PeopleReady: Your Partner for 24/7 Shift Coverage

The challenges of staffing all shifts — day, evening, night and weekends — are universal across industries, but they don’t have to be overwhelming. PeopleReady has deep expertise in hospitality, construction, manufacturing and logistics, and retail, which means we understand the specific demands of each industry and can deliver effective solutions to meet them.

By providing reliable workers any time of day, we ensure you can fill every shift, keep operations running smoothly and achieve your business goals.

PeopleReady specializes in 24/7 staffing solutions, offering a vast network of qualified workers ready to support your operations. Whether you need servers and housekeepers in hospitality, general and skilled laborers in construction, machine operators and forklift drivers in manufacturing and logistics, or cashiers and stockers in retail, we provide customized staffing solutions tailored to your industry.