Staffing companies say coronavirus has slowed hiring; demand expected to pick up as manufacturing reopens
Many of the manufacturers that rely on staffing services aren’t hiring now because they are shut down, deemed nonessential under statewide rules meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus. But Patricia Canavan, president of United Personnel in Springfield, said some of her clients have converted at least some of their manufacturing capacity into making protective face masks and other equipment for first responders. One example is Caratamundi in East Longmeadow, which normally makes toys and games for Hasbro and others.