OCEAN CITY – As seasonal workers continue to make their way into Ocean City, officials say staffing and seasonal housing shortages persist.
Employers, industry leaders and resort officials say labor shortages continue to be felt as the summer season kicks off.
While restrictions have eased on the J-1 visa summer work and travel program, Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lachelle Scarlato said less than 500 student workers have arrived in Ocean City as of Wednesday.
“There is no regulation in terms of the U.S. that is prohibiting them from coming,” she said. “The challenge that remains is that their home countries are processing visas at different rates. Some are not processing visas at all.”
Each summer, roughly 4,000 international students on J-1 work and travel visas arrive in Ocean City to fill some of the resort’s 12,000 seasonal jobs. In 2020, however, the program was essentially shut down because of travel restrictions and federal directives related to the pandemic, resulting in a labor shortage that had local businesses scaling back operations.
June is shot. That leaves roughly 6 weeks if that. Better luck next year. And plan earlier for alternative. Ex. Be at stephen Decatur every day for next school year. Change the mindset. Be at SU and UMES. Why not? Push until it hurts. What? It hasnt worked in the past? Well take firework and other nice to haves and make it a need. $$$$$ will shortly not be flowing from the Fed and State. Dont use past practice as a reminder. Change is needed so there isnt a reliability for J1s.
Housing? A Wisconsin group? Hahahahahahahah
What do you want to hang around SDHS every day for, creep?
Ever hear of marketing and outreach?
The nations newest motto is Diversity and Inclusion.
Also, local is better when they dont need housing.
1038 I agree
Dominican….Puerto Rico. Same thing. Fun fun fun in family friendly OC!!!
Put tents up at the Park & Ride lot. It’s not being used for anything else.
“locals won’t work for what we are paying” whas the bs I keep hearing.
oc brought this on themselves
Crap pay, breaking labor laws, substandard living conditions. using slave labor under the guise of J1
Same every year OC wants desperate foreigners because they don’t want to pay Enough for Americans !!!!
Excuse me? There are still fire houses that they want to rebuild yet. After the Town’s payroll, there’s not lot of extra money.
Most boardwalk businesses only report enough cash to break even then pocket the rest
No sympathy here for the skimmers
OC businesses just take advantage of desperate foreign workers !!! They Don’t deserve ANY !!!!
Prostitution comes too along with the Female workers from abroad !!!! FACT