Gillian says that has resulted in businesses closing early for the season, giving up a week before Labor Day, which is traditionally the last major influx of tourists to the beach resorts. She adds even her family-run amusement pier has adjusted its schedule to open in the late afternoon because it doesn’t have the staff to open when it usually does.
“It really is challenging beyond belief. Most businesses are paying top-dollar,” she said, noting Wonderland and other businesses have increased wages to $15 an hour.
In Avalon, an effort to recruit more lifeguards by boosting pay by 20% has paid off, said Mayor Martin Pagliughi.
“The pay was too low,” Pagliughi said. “A lot of the guards couldn’t afford to stay in town unless they went into a group rental.”
In addition to raising the average starting salary, Pagliughi said Avalon offered virtual training before the start of the season and bonuses to lifeguards that stay through Labor Day. That…
