Tourism operators on the South Shore have been struggling to find staff for years.
Some even adjust their hours to to reflect when they can get people to work.
Katherine Eisenhauer is all too familiar with the problem.
The owner of the Savvy Sailor restaurant in Lunenburg says training is a particular problem.
“The consistency is a huge thing. Having a brand new kitchen staff every year, it does take a lot of time in the spring to be able to bring people up to know what the standards are here.”
She says it’s the same situation for servers having to learn the menu and the stories behind the food they serve.
Eisenhauer adds the seasonal nature of a tourist area is a challenge to hiring.
“I really do try to at least provide year round, or eleven months of the year, employment for as many people as I can. But I do still have to operate as a business and look at the dollars and things that go with labour costs.”
She says there are lots of jobs in the area but the struggle is to find qualified people to fill the positions.
Eisenhauer hopes a program returning to NSCC will help to fill the gaps.
Nova Scotia Community College has heard the complaints and are relaunching a program to help meet the demand.
The Lunenburg Campus in Bridgewater will be offering a one-year Tourism Hospitality certificate program to provide a foundation in the industry.
NSCC Faculty Teri Green says the college aims to give students a base knowledge that business owners can build on.
“We’re hoping that by providing these particular courses, that they’ll be that leg up on anyone else that’s coming in. They’ll have a good knowledge of all the excellent things we have to offer in Nova Scotia.”
Green says the one-year program allows students to get into the workforce faster.
The college is accepting applications for the program which is set to begin in January 2019.
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
