business

*■ And It's Getting Worse

The Problem: More Jobs, Less Teenagers

By WILL DENNIS Anyone out there need a job? If so, Cape May County businesses are hiring. Two Mile Landing needs broiler cooks, Wawa needs cashiers, and Jamesway needs office clerks. And there's plenty of others available — just look at the classifieds. The problem is, many businesses can't seem to find people. For the seasonal employers, things look especially tough. 'FOR A TOURISTRELATED industry, which includes about 75 to 80 percent of the businesses at the shore, the help situation is very bad," said James Salasin, manager of Two Mile Landing, Ocean Drive, Wildwood Crest. "For our restaurant, we depend on an age group from 16 to 25 years old. That age group, it seems, is no longer around." Salasin gave two reasons that his restaurant and WAGNER UPHOLSTERY Custom Upholstering To Fit Your Needs! Before You Buy New, Call For An Estimate! CALL 263-3422 263-3297 6604 Landis Ave.. Sea Isle City

others aren't getting applications. "There are fewer teenagers around anymore," he said. "Certainly fewer than a couple of years ago, when we had the kids from the baby boom 16 or 17 years ago. It's been bad for the past few years, but it's getting really tough now. "Another reason," he continued, "is that the age group that came down to the shore for the summer to work isn't coming down anymore. It just costs too much to live down here." THE PROBLEM doesn't seem to be the wages being offered. "Wages are up," said Chet Sherman, a labormarket analyst for the New Jersey Department of Labor. "Every local service office reports that minimum wage ($3.75 an hour) is not attracting workers anymore. This is the classical reaction to the diminished supply of labor. "Industry is realizing that they have to use higher wages to attract workers," he continued. "Mo6t wages are above the minimum now anyway." The problem is regardless of pay scales, agreed Salasin, "Most of the businesses down here do pay above minimum . wage. Still," he added, "the work force is just not there." JOHN KIRK, district manager for Wawa Markets, Mamora, concurred that it's been a ?low summer for hiring. "I think it's taking longer than usual,"* he commented. "We're going through the normal process of running several ads through late June to early July to staff up for the summer season. I wouldn't say it's the easiest summer we've ever had." Kirk also added that the situation "seems to.be getting worse every year." "It's a continuation of a trend noticed the year

before last summer," said Sherman. He gave a number of reasons that the number of job seekers was on the decline. "FIRST." HE SAID, "the size of the population from ages 16 to 21 is shrinking slowly statewide. There are simply less people available to work. "Secondly, there are more jobs throughout the state in general. After the last recession in '83, there were jobs created by the thousands. These were mainly in the wholesale and retail trade and the services industry, which include a lot of touristrelated businesses. These jobs are the type that could be Tilled by the 16 to 20 year-olds. Sherman also said that the availability of yearround positions might be hurting seasonal employment. •'FULL-TIME EMPLOYERS are probably taking away people from the seasonal employers," he said. "Part of the reason for this is the result of the growth in fulltime jobs." He indicated that "there has been a tremendous growth of full-time jobs statewide" which "attract that particular age group" that work the seasonal type of jobs. But finding people for seasonal employment isn't the only problem. Yearround employment, too, is suffering from a lack of available workers. "The main problem is finding year-round people," said Matthew Ray, manager. Court House Jamesway. "It's a little better now since the kids have graduated. Come November, though, we'll probably be looking for people again. " THINGS DO GET a little better during the summer months, said Ray, but finding people to work has been getting more difficult for the past few years.

"It seems like it's worse than years past," he commented. "People seem hard to come by anymore. We were having a real problem finding people, though recently we've been getting a lot more applicants. But it seems to be a year-round problem." Other institutions are having a tough time as well. Collective Savings and Loan, Rio Grande, had to resort to putting a sign in its window to attract people for a teller's position. "I WAS HAVING a difficult time finding people, " said Hedy Dietx, manager. \ 34 Earn Honors At WCH NORTH WILDWOOD - Honor rolls for the final marking period at Wildwood Catholic High School have been announced, with 14 students being chosen for first honors and 20 for second honors. Students singled out were: FIRST HONORS Michelle Brzyiki. Patricia Canally. seniors. Kathryn Caruso. Jackie Steady, juniors. Keith Crmfton. Jenniter Dever. Shannon Quinn, Stephanie Souchak. sophomores, James Aresenault, Nancy Ann Betseigel. Andrew Brannen. Sheila DiMarco, Michelle Moore. Kristy Quinn. SECOND HONORS Ann Marie McCarthy. Renee Monti. Mina Pittakas. Jennifer Russell, seniors; Elizabeth Buchanan. Thomas Gallagher. Bill Shinn. Maria Bilotti. Laura DiGiovannia. Stacey Carter. .Laura McDonald, juniors , John Fnes. Anne GaUaccio, Catherine Olden. Theresa Ward, sophomores Lone Hagan. Allison Koefaig. Geoffrey Lewis. Kelly Ann McGowan. Joseph Leahy, freshmen

"We advertised in the Press and the Herald, but we didn't get any response. So I went to my boss and said that I really needed a person for the position, and asked if I could put a sign up. He said, 'I guess you'H have to.' "I got a number of inquiries, and hired one person," said Dietz. "Putting the sign up wasn't very professional, but it did work." Ray blamed the lack of employable people on smaller graduating classes, remarking that there are "just not as many kids looking for jobs anymore." ALTHOUGH THE GROWTH RATE for the high number of jobs vs. the low number of workers is expected to '-'level out," according to Sherman, he cautioned that it probably won't get any better soon. "I don't have the exact numbers of the population drop, but I assume Cape May County is like the rest of the state," he said. "There has been talk of a baby 'boom-let,' which could ease the situation, but we'll only see the results of that about 15 years down the road. "I expect this situation to last for some time," he concluded. "Business will just have to learn how to survive."

LAURA FAUSEY At Program In Capital SWAINTON - Laura Fausey, daughter of William and Eileen Fausey of this community, is representing the Cape May County 4-H Youth Development program in Washington, D.C., at the 4-H Citizenship-Washing-ton Focus program. The program is designed to help 4-Hers 15-19 better understand the structures and functions of the American government. It was begun in June and will continue week-long training sessions through Aug. 1. Fausey has been an active 4-H member nine years. She is currently one of the outstanding 4-Hers of the year and the county's outstanding equestrienne. Her trip is sponsored by the county 4-H Leaders Association and the Board of Agriculture.

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From The Principal I By Stanley Kotzen * Principal, Lower Cape May Regional High School

When Jennie Teitelman retires at the end of this month, we will be saying goodbye to a treasured member of our Lower Cape May Regional family. She has been family in a very real sense here and much more than an employee for the past 17 years. Her husband Richard served on the Lower Cape I May Board of Education from its inception in 1957 until his death in 1973, and the middle school has been named in his honor Her brother-in-law, Ray. just retired after 24 years of teaching in this district. Her three children have been graduates of Lower Cape May Regional and her grandchildren are on the way in the Cape May schools. HER NEPHEW Paul Lundholm was president of our board of education for four years, and when Jennie moves into retirement in a matter of days there will be a break with the past that we will all feel very deeply Most of all we will miss a woman of genuine dignity who performed her job in a very professional and yet caring manner. Payroll clerk is a position that demands accuracy and sensitivity and Jennie brought those traits to her responsibilities in a manner that is very easy to take for granted. SHE WAS always the first to know of those lifealtering decisions that demand confidentiality. She knew who was getting ' hired and fired, and she »v» i t i t rev r «> ivtv*-.

had to know about changes in dependent claims (who was getting married and divorced). She was the one that staff members came to when there was a need to get information on pension loans for a new mortgage, and she was always there to explain why this month's payhroll check was not as large as anticipated. IT WAS THE way in which she did her job that we will miss the most because she was always a woman who was efficient and polite and one who took a genuine interest in the concerns of our staff. She helped us all feel a little bit like family. Having been born and educated in Wildwood, Jennie has always called this area home. She raised three children, Steven. Janet, and Linda, in Cape May. where Richard was owner of the Beach View Restaurant. Retirement will not see her moving from the area that has always been home, but will allow her to spend more time with her seven grandchildren and do many of those things that time will now permit. The Teitelman name is no longer on our active rolls now that Jennie is leaving, and for this school district her presence will be missed in a very special way. She was steady, and a link to the tradition of this school district. She was genuinely a part of all of us here and in times of stress she made us feel that way. A very classy lady is retiring. i bLiahirfJ