Atlantic City casinos aim to open up more job opportunities for local workers. The Casino Association of New Jersey, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and city and state government officials are pushing to provide more training and job opportunities for local residents.
That’s because foreign seasonal workers have flooded Atlantic City’s casinos in recent years. With limited job openings, the authorities are in favor of opening job opportunities in casinos for those who live in the region.
The president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, Steve Callender, believes that the move to put local workers first will help to revitalize the community.
“We have always been receptive to the idea of giving the people in Atlantic City these new jobs. So it will have to be a well thought out and organized program that involves people ”.
Atlantic City authorities’ plan for casinos
Marty Small has been campaigning for the casino industry to step forward and help bridge the job gap. Before the pandemic, the politician had managed to make a commitment to the city’s casinos.
“This further clarifies my administration’s position with the good people of the city of Atlantic City, working with the casino industry, to employ more Atlantic City residents, which is a priority, I am happy that this will happen” , he stated.
The Atlantic City Casino association was quick to embrace the idea, with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino co-owner Joe Jingoli receiving support from other members at the group’s monthly meeting. “There is going to be a little bit of pain, and it is a pain that should have happened 30 years ago, we are going to have to deal with it now,” said Jingoli.
President Bob McDevitt, of 54 Union Casino local workers, said local officials intended to start training in September.
“Probably before that too, because for some of the jobs, the need is much greater and the casinos are understaffed now,” said McDevitt.