na-adjective, noun
shorthanded; understaffed
Describes a situation where there are not enough people to do the work. Often used with で or の to modify nouns.
今日は手不足で、仕事がなかなか終わらない。
We're shorthanded today, so the work just isn't getting done.
手不足の店では、サービスが遅くなりがちだ。
In understaffed shops, service tends to be slow.
Compound of 手 (hand, worker) and 不足 (shortage).