Some Nebraska state parks to limit summer hours due to staffing struggles

In one more instance of ongoing hiring challenges in Nebraska, some state parks will function beneath restricted hours this summer season. 

The Nebraska Recreation and Parks Fee mentioned Tuesday that the choice to change summer season hours at some parks was because of workforce limitations. The fee normally hires practically 900 staffers throughout Nebraska to help through the summer season, however up to now this yr, workers ranges are half of what’s wanted. 

The fee urged park-goers to name forward earlier than visiting a park to verify on exercise occasions and availability. 

“We admire everybody’s assist and persistence as we make the required adjustments to adapt to the present staffing challenges,” Parks Division Administrator Jeff Fields mentioned in a press launch. “We’ll do our greatest to nonetheless present many glorious leisure alternatives that individuals anticipate of their parks.”

Lowered staffing is affecting different summer season actions outdoors of state parks. As a consequence of a lifeguard scarcity, a majority of Omaha’s 15 out of doors swimming swimming pools will function for under half the traditional summer season season.

Recreation and Parks can also be in want of lifeguards, together with capturing vary workers, housekeepers and concession employees. Candidates can apply at outdoornebraska.gov/careers.

Coaching and certification can be found for brand spanking new workers. Recreation and Parks just lately raised the pay charges for seasonal workers by greater than 33%, in keeping with the press launch.

Many employers have struggled with hiring through the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Business final summer season discovered that 92% of respondents agreed that discovering expert employees offered a prime problem to recovering economically from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nebraska’s unemployment price was tied with Utah for the bottom within the nation at 1.9% in April, in keeping with preliminary seasonally adjusted information. The proportion is an all-time low for Nebraska for the second straight month, in keeping with the State Division of Labor. The nationwide unemployment price is 3.6%.

The state’s labor pressure participation price — the proportion of inhabitants 16 and older who’re employed or actively in search of work — was 69.9% in April. That’s the highest it has been since March 2020, in keeping with information compiled by the Federal Reserve Financial institution of St. Louis. A excessive labor participation price means there are fewer individuals who may very well be added to the labor pressure.

“The variety of employed employees within the labor pressure has been at traditionally excessive ranges since July of 2021,” John Albin, Nebraska labor commissioner, mentioned in a press launch.