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Hiring has taken some strides five years post-pandemic although challenges remain for certain sectors including transportation, construction and education jobs.
Newport Schools Superintendent Dave Smith said historically, bus drivers have been hard to find. He says it’s also been rather difficult finding paraeducators-teachers, custodians and aides.
“We have had more turnovers in the past,” Smith said.
Aaron Hutchins, operations manager of First Student, the school bus company that contracts with Newport School District, said his business has its ups and downs.
“Our core group is retired. It fits in with their mornings and afternoons,” Hutchins said.
The company pays a starting driver $19.74 an hour including benefits and trains new drivers to get their CDL – commercial driver’s license.
“We encourage people who love students to apply,” Hutchins said.
West Bonner County School District Transportation Manager Ryan Carruth said his job has been a challenging one. Starting his position last year, Carruth was faced with closing two bus routes. The district then lost two drivers, one to an injury and the other to a resignation.
Ultimately, the injured driver went back to work and the district hired another driver, but Carruth said it isn’t easy.
“It’s a challenge to fill bus driver positions,” he said. “Being a school bus driver is tough, having to have drivers split their days into morning and afternoon shifts.”
The district pays their drivers $17.50 an hour providing them with full medical, dental, and life insurance.
Carruth said when drivers are hired, they find it welcoming.
“We can read each other’s needs. We are one big happy family,” he said.
Brandon Hansen from the Tri-County Economic Development District is an economic development specialist who suggested jobs are available but lack a suitable labor pool due to an aging population where the median age for workers in Pend Oreille County is 50, whereas nationally it is 38.
“As the baby boomer generation age out, they are retiring,” Hansen said.
That, coupled with a labor force opting for early retirement during the pandemic years, is a recipe for disaster.
“If you don’t have workers here, you can relocate them, but that is problematic because the housing inventory is low,” Hansen said. “There is an effort for low-income housing but not mid-income level housing.”
There is a labor shortage nationwide, he said.
Hansen said most young people leave the area for college and for jobs in construction and other services.
“Construction companies go to Spokane and build more. Unlike here,” he said.
“There is work to be had here but not everyone’s dream job,” Hansen said.
For those who want retail or restaurant service jobs, the times are ideal, especially during the high summer months when business is booming.
Clare Clark, co-owner of Kelly’s Bar and Grill, said her staffing needs are full having had five applicants for one job.
Front of house, the waitstaff, are paid minimum wage, because they can make it up in tips doubling their incomes. The back of house, or kitchen staff are paid higher than minimum wages.
“They are attracted to the service industry because they can make more in tips,” Clark said.
Kalispel Tribal Business Council Vice Chairman Curt Holmes said hiring has rebounded postcovid due to people having to keep up with expenses.
“It’s better compared to covid and post-covid with the stimulus checks,” he said. “I don’t think it as hard to find people as it was two years ago.”
The Kalispel Tribe employs approximately 55 at their casino, market and RV park.
“Inflation is at an all-time high. Groceries are more and on top of meeting rent, it is a stimulus for people to find extra work,” Holmes said.
Despite this, some businesses are lacking new hires.
Mitchell’s Harvest Foods in Priest River is hiring for summer help but are having difficulties.
“It is a challenge,” Hiring Manager Ken Neale said.
Neale said there are not enough applicants and those who apply are too young to work.
“We also have a lot of turnover that universal in our industry,” he said.
At Newport Hospital, the greatest need is radiologists.
“While other positions - lab techs, medical assistants and nurses - were historically hard to fill, our immediate focus is staffing our Radiology Department,” Jennifer Smith, Director of Strategy and Community Engagement, said, “On the flip side, our easiest- to-fill positions are typically entry-level office positions. For example, we recently received 50 applications for our PBX Operator positions,” she said.
Converting to PBX Operators is part of the hospital’s 2024 District Strategic Plan and another way to serve the community.
“This means that patients calling during the week (Monday- Friday, during normal business hours) will speak to a friendly in-house operator, rather than navigating a complex phone tree system,” Smith said.
Smith said the plan is to go live with the PBX Operators service early this summer.
“In a world where technology is driving operations, we are pleased to provide more human interaction when accessing local healthcare services,” she said.
Todd Strobel, CT instructor for Cusick School District, has been busy with his ninth grade students in organizing a job fair at the school.
May 21 a career fair was held with hands on demonstrations from local businesses to introduce students to future jobs.
“From medical to forest service, it’s all very versatile,” Strobel said. “The demonstrators explain to kids don’t be embarrassed to be a plumber and show as many kids as we can how to change brakes.”
Strobel advises that technology will not replace jobs, but add to them.
“I’m excited to show them what’s out there,” he said.
