003 - Current Climate for Hiring in the Events Industry

Chris Griffin and Michael McMahon talk about what hiring looks like right now in the events world, and why bringing in the right people is tougher than ever. The conversation covers where the talent gaps are, how they got here, and what can be done to fix them.

What’s Discussed

The Workforce Gap

• The average trade show floor worker is 58 years old.
• Many skilled veterans retired after the pandemic, leaving a major hole in the labor pool.
• Younger generations rarely know this industry exists as a career path.

The Hiring Problem

• Companies are competing for a smaller talent pool.
• It’s now an employee-driven market—workers have options and are rethinking what they want from their careers.
• Many who left during the pandemic aren’t coming back.

New Approaches to Building Teams

• Some companies are hiring from outside the industry, bringing in people from hospitality, agencies, and customer service backgrounds.
• Those fresh perspectives come with strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• The challenge: training new hires quickly while maintaining quality and client experience.

Adapting to Change

• Owners are learning that business growth depends on people more than ever.
• Rebuilding teams requires patience, creativity, and a focus on culture, not just skill sets.
• The conversation highlights how the human side of the business is just as critical as innovation or equipment.

Our Take

At CREW XP, we see this every day. The event industry runs on people—skilled, curious, motivated people. Finding them, keeping them, and helping them grow is the real work behind every great show.

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