I've been consistently understaffed, usually 19-20 people could work for me and we run 16-17. Doesn't matter the position people just do not apply. I've been in this position 8-9 years and it's pretty well been the same.
Where do you look for work? Where would you post a job opportunity?
The old standby newspaper/career builder/etc doesn't get anything anymore. Facebook/Craigslist etc.. Bring in some. Any ideas?
Wife recently left a position as a recruiter.
She had to net dive to find resumes (monster/linked-in/indeed for App-Sec engineering types) and it was a full time job for a small (<100 employee) company.
Most people still came from employee referral though.
It widely depends on the type of work, if you are looking for entry level types, try a local college either job fair or career services?
if it's a unique skill set and you have friends in similar industry, the networking approach can work. If you have a large network via Facebook or the like, just making it known that you need people can bring in referrals. Somebody often knows somebody who is a hard worker, and it would seem a personal reference can go a ways in finding people.
If your problem is that literally "people do not apply" then it's either not publicized adequately, or there's some other issue (grossly underpaid, etc.).
I've been helping my sister in law and mother in law hunt for jobs, and indeed.com seems to house a lot of legit postings.
Even sharing here, as you did pre-emptively, I have no idea what you do, what kind of people you're looking for, or what background might be a good fit.
What do you need? Where do you need em?
I think Linkedin tools (spendy though) allow you to target people and mass email them. Might be something to look into.
Indeed and linked-in can cost $$$$ from the looking for employees side if my memory of what my wife was telling me serves.
Findlay looks like the area of the state that isn't hip. I know lots of people speak highly of Cincinnati and Cleveland's urban revival but young job seekers still aren't searching Ohio as a whole.
If you want younger workers I'd probably target Findlay University or Owens College. Be flexible with your hours and you might be able to pay a little less in return for more flexibility.
Right, oil change techs, cashiers, managers. I wouldn't try linkedin or the like for techs.
Ive also noticed that the amount of male respondents to postings have dramatically dropped off. Drug test and background are required and that info scares some off...
My shop is in Toledo, Perrysburg area.
Too bad you weren't closer, i've been considering a part time job, and i'm pretty boss at oil changes. 
Come on down, lol.
Is there any local or regional career center type place? Perhaps postings or relationships there could help funnel some tech school kids/grads your way?
Might try the local Vo-tech, but you would get young people with young people drama.
I have a simple rule that works for me when searching for anything.
"Mention it to anybody who you speak to."
It is amazing where solutions have come from. It's kinda why we are on this board.
Penta, Vanguard, Ehove for local votech.
Owens might have something also.
Hold an open house and invite the entire votech classes in for a hands-on tour. The key is to make them know you're there.
We have an ongoing ad at Penta, we hire over 18 though so that one usually strikes out.
I'm going to call Owens now, I did have the same thing there but haven't followed it up in a few months.
Do you know a teacher, by name, at each of these votechs?
The teachers will be able to sort the good from the bad for you but in addition, the teachers may be able to put you in touch with grads from a few years ago.
Put more efforts into reaching the teachers rather than reaching the students
So. If you want to save money on linked in get all your employees in a room, ask them to go through their profiles and find people they want to refer. Then go for it.
These votechs all want to brag about their placement rates (getting grads real jobs upon graduation.)
It would seem to me that 50% high school grads are 18 yrs old and the other 50% will be 18 in six months or less.
You state you always seem to need three. Sure, you don't want an entire workforce of 18 yr olds but I bet that you have room to take 3 of them in every June (when they graduate.) Even if that has you overstaffed (which I doubt) you will still see one of them or another employee fall off soon and be back to more normal levels.
Tell the teachers that you can commit to one student from each school, each year (and present it like an award or achievement.)
Can you hire part time work from local High Schools?
When they are working, find the ones who really like it, and show them the path that gets them a career there.
Knowing what the job is now, I have to ask if it pays a livable wage? Part time minimum wage jobs are for the under 18 crew who live at home and eat off the parents table. That could be a problem.
It is neither part time (unless desired) nor minimum wage. It's around 10-15 an hour job. Salary positions pay equivalent to other salary jobs in our area. We have had some Success hiring "kids" but typically they come and go. My best guys(and gals) are guys who worked factory before they dried up and come to work and go home.
If you are actually hiring workers are you seeing similar issues? Other employers in this area speak of the same problems. From the employee side we discuss how hard it is to find work in the area; which seems counterintuitive.
I have 5 drivers working for me.
I got 3 of them through existing relationships (fiends, fiends of friends or previous co-worker.)
I pulled one away from a competitor.
I got one via Craigslist.
As for the Craigslist, I will admit, as I launched the ad, I wondered to myself, "how will I handle the influx of applicant?" Boy, was I surprised. I had no problem with managing the few that I got which really boiled down to 2 I wanted to talk to. I took a chance on 1 and she has been the best that I have (here about 2 years now in a 3 year old company.)
Even harder for you, what you are offering is genuine hard work. I can see the difficulty of finding people.
Ottawa County (which is very close to you, Genoa, Oak Harbor, Port Clinton) is a tough economy since so much of it is seasonal jobs. Have you tried Jobs and Family Services for that county?
Sandusky County (Woodville, Fremont, etc) is a tough economy too being rural with dwindling manufacturing.
Lucas County (Toledo) and Wood County have their own issues but more opportunities.
Bookie Facie for Sandusky County
Rouen Chrysler has a Tech posting there (your job competitor)
Ottawa County
Currently a boat repair tech listing.
The company I work for is having the same issues. We are about 100 miles south of you and are considered one of the better factories to work for. The applicants just aren't there. This isn't miserable assembly line work either, its a pretty enjoyable job. Our requirements are pretty lenient, a drug test is required but beyond that just about any one can get a foot in the door and make pretty good money. I don't know why people aren't showing up.
While I work in a completely different field and different area, I'm seeing similar issues with hiring people. The office is located outside any known IT hot spot but we pay well for the area (and due to the low-ish cost of living, the money goes a lot further than in the hot spots, so people end up being better off) and have the bonus of the office being a five minute walk from the beach.
I often can't attract people from the university that's 50 miles away, yet they move to places like Silicon Valley because there "are no jobs up here". I have had some success with very specialised recruiting sites, but the best success at the junior end of the pay and experience scale was achieved by plastering our job ads all over the local and the surrounding CLs. "Surrounding" being the keyword here.
That said, I do expect junior people to only stay on for a couple of years while they figure out what to do with their life and their careers.
Yes, this is usually a job used as a stepping stone into another job; here or outside. I appreciate everyone's comments.
In reply to gearheadmb:
I know some of it all might be conditioning on current youngsters. My sister has a masters in OT, yet has turned down no less than 5 job offers paying close to $40/hr due to "lack of enough vacation time" last one she turned down offered 6 weeks + accumulating PTO 
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