From local restaurants to logistics, some companies are having trouble finding workers and are hosting hiring events to draw in more candidates.

Wilmington-based MCO Transport Inc. is looking to fill as many as 20 truck driver positions, said Laurie King, vice president and director of corporate relations for the trucking and warehouse company with terminal operations in Chesapeake, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia. 

"The trucking industry has been suffering from a labor shortage, and it just has gotten worse," King said. "There has been a difficulty in the industry for several years ... the biggest challenge has been finding qualified drivers. It's the fact that we don't get enough applications that meet our standards. But as of late, we're just not getting very many applications at all."

The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the shortage, she said.

The company has had its second pay increase for drivers in the past six months.

MCO Transport officials said in a news release that the company raised pay by as much as 10% across all divisions in May, the increase due to a severe labor shortage in the trucking industry on top of a "record demand in freight services."

"Under the new pay increase, new drivers can earn at least $50,000 in their first year, with top drivers grossing nearly 6 figures. All local positions pay hourly, and regional drivers earn as much as $0.47/mile with weekly home time," stated the release.

With many COVID restrictions lifted, the restaurant industry is also looking to fill more positions as the demand for service grows across the region along with the tourist season.

One chain restaurant is hosting its first-ever hiring event in Wilmington to find workers.

Texas Roadhouse, at 230 Eastwood Road, is hosting a hiring event for full- and part-time positions Monday. The company is looking for as many as 40 people, both front and back of house, company officials said in an email.

CarMax, Inc., the national used cars retailer, is hiring and hosting a curbside career date at 16 of its locations, including the Wilmington location at 6030 Market St., according to a news release.

The national used cars retailer is looking to fill 24 positions by the end of the summer at the Wilmington store, a company official said in an email. 

"The majority of open positions are for various auto service professional roles – including technicians, detailers, painters, supply and inventory associates – to help us recondition and prepare vehicles for sale." the spokesperson said. "We’re also hiring customer specialists who support local customers through the car-buying process and ensure a seamless experience."

“CarMax continues to grow and the need to produce more vehicles to keep up with anticipated consumer demand is great,” Tyrone Payton, CarMax's vice president of regional service operations, said in the company's release.