Brands move to combat this year's labor shortage

We looked at how brands are responding to struggling to hire, and the Halloween candy trends you need to know about. [View this email in your browser]( 09/29/21 How brands are responding to the labor shortage Our Q3 hiring report explores the tactics brands are using to attract workers and retain talent, from wages increases to offering tuition payments. We also looked at the types of candy and treats that are trending for the Halloween season. Hiring trends in 2021 Our [latest report]( looks at the ways in which the world of work has changed, the reasons for the current labor shortage, and what kinds of company responses to boost hiring efforts have received the most media and public attention. One example of this was Chipotle’s commitment to raising wages. Engagement to content surrounding the company's commitment to increase wages was highest between May 10 and May 12. The company said it would begin increasing its minimum wage by the end of June, with the average wage at most chains rising to $15 an hour. It also announced extended benefits, such as mental health care, 401(k) plans and free tuition through accredited schools. To read more about what other companies including McDonald's, Target, and Amazon are doing to appeal to workers, you can [read the full report here](. Halloween candy trends for fall 2021 Every year the obsession around Halloween seems to grow, and in 2021 our research showed that media coverage of the holiday began as early as July. This year we looked at which brands are receiving the most attention for their Halloween themed candy, how Disney Parks are transforming their menu for the holiday, and other candy trends that are sparking interest. The biggest piece of content about a brand was Totally The Bomb’s article about [Sour Patch Kids Zombie candy returning to stores](. The article, which brought in over 11k engagements mostly from [Facebook]( interactions, noted that the item is not on the shelves for long by design. Another trend we’ve spotted this Halloween that goes beyond candy is the charcuterie boards. From [pumpkins]( to [skeletons]( the platters traditionally used for hosting are transitioning towards the October holiday. To catch up on all of this year’s Halloween candy trends, [read our blog here](. That's all from us this week, but don't forget to join us for a live webinar at 11:30 EST on delight, identity, and purpose in the food & beverage industry with Steve Salvador from APCO Worldwide. [Sign up for the webinar here](. [Website]( [Twitter]( [NewsWhip]( [LinkedIn]( [Instagram]( [NewsWhip Spike]( [NewsWhip Analytics]( [Resources]( [Blog]( [Contact](mailto:%20hello@newswhip.com) Millions of stories, videos, and social posts are published each day, sparking billions of interactions. NewsWhip transforms this ocean of social data into actionable insights to inform your content strategy. NewsWhip products show you what audiences are engaging with in real time and what has performed best historically – in every vertical. Copyright © 2021 NewsWhip, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you opted in for the NewsWhip blog newsletter and updates. Our mailing address is: NewsWhip 47 Merrion SquareDublin, Ireland [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.