Ski resorts and amusement parks are facing hiring hurdles this year after the Trump administration’s ban on several work-based visa types
GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Jerry Huskey, a senior staff member at Ober Gatlinburg, spent his summer struggling to hire enough staff to operate its amusement park and he is dreading the same challenge as the winter ski season approaches.
Lockdowns and travel restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic created one set of hiring hurdles this year; Washington created others. In June, President Trump banned severalthrough the end of the year, including the J-1 and H-2B programs for seasonal foreign workers, with the aim of safeguarding any open jobs for Americans.
Recruiting those U.S. workers, however, proved difficult this summer because the seasonal jobs aren’t permanent, affordable housing is hard to find, and, in some locations, there simply aren’t enough workers available, business leaders say. The enhanced unemployment benefits approved by Congress and the White House this summer also meant American workers could make more money staying at home rather than taking a temporary job.
On a July afternoon in Gatlinburg, a parade of cars with out-of-state license plates inched along Parkway, the city’s busy commercial strip. Yet with a total population of just 4,000 residents, Ober Gatlinburg and other businesses couldn’t fill all the jobs needed during the bustling summer. One restaurant that was closed in early July left a note on its door citing staffing issues, while others staked “Always Hiring” signs out front.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
D.C. judge shields diversity visa winners from Trump's travel ban, otherwise upholds itA U.S. District Judge partially blocked Trump's travel ban by ordering the State Department to process diversity visa lottery applications before the September 30 deadline.
Read more »
Foreign sellers on Amazon banned from seeds to the US - InsiderAmazon restricts foreign merchants from selling seeds to the US after reports of mysterious packages
Read more »
Donald Trump bans 'anti-American' workplace training sessions on race - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web.
Read more »