After two summers with the ubiquitous “Help Wanted” signs, many local businesses wonder what the 2022 season will bring.
In addition to the difficulty in finding local workers, there are new concerns about students arriving for the J-1 Summer Work and Travel Visa program because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Overall expectations are that a little more than half the usual complement of 5,300 students will participate this year, with some expecting even less.
Throughout Cape May County, from restaurants and motels to amusement parks, much of the workforce is filled by students from abroad through the BridgeUSA program. In addition, businesses rely on the program to boost staff numbers during the peak season and at the end.
“It’s going to be a struggle this year, not just with the J-1 students but the [entire] workforce,” said Tracey Boyle-DuFault, executive director of the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce. “It’s no longer COVID, so we’re not quite sure what it is, but everyone is looking for help and there will be job fairs in hopes of attracting [workers].”
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began Feb. 24 and has been disturbing the global economy ever since. As a result, Cape May County may feel a local impact if fewer J-1 students arrive to support businesses this season.
“The J-1 issue is changing every day, and the situation with the war in Ukraine has not helped matters,” Cape May County Chamber of Commerce President Vicki Clark said. “More students from Russia than Ukraine participate in the program. It just tends to be more popular with Russian students.”
In addition to the hesitation of traveling so far away from home, especially during the continuing conflict, Clark said fewer students plan to come this season than in 2019. However, despite the lower estimates, she said a full complement of international students would tally 2,800.
Clark expects the county will have two-thirds of the number of students needed. Previous years have seen about 5,300 students. She said New Jersey is the seventh-most-popular state for students participating in the program.
“Things are looking much better than they have the last couple of years,” she said. “The program is great for us and we’re hopeful it’s going to work out in a meaningful way this year. Honestly, if we have 2,000 students, that’s probably as successful as we will be this year.”
Slow process
To attain a J-1 visa, students must have a job before scheduling an appointment at the U.S. Department of State. Area businesses have already started recruiting students for this season.
“With everything that’s happened in the past couple of years with COVID, the U.S. Embassy offices are very backed up and short-staffed,” Clark said. “It goes country by country with how quickly students are getting visa appointments.”
Clark checks in daily with local businesses on the student recruitment process. She said businesses are hopeful the students will get visa appointments and arrive on time to bring relief for the summer season.
“Most students in New Jersey are working Atlantic City and south, which is why it’s so important to us here,” Clark said. “It’s why we are the ones who are the most vocal in the state and reaching out to Congressman Jeff Van Drew.”
Cape May County Department of Tourism Director Diane Wieland said local and county legislators are working in unison with state and federal office holders and the State Department to keep the visa program flowing.
“In Cape May County, 50 percent of our jobs are tourism-related,” Wieland said. “We want to keep businesses open and fill jobs, and expand the season.”
Wieland said even if the J-1 visa students do not arrive as early as May, she hopes the students will be able to stay longer to help extend the season into the fall.
“Businesses are reaching out to other countries in addition to Eastern Europe, like Jamaica and the Bahamas,” Wieland said. “There are a few Caribbean countries that have the J-1 program, too.”
The chamber works closely with Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, as well as the entire New Jersey congressional delegation.
“They’re always on board and they understand that it’s a cultural program for international students first and supplemental workforce program second,” Clark said. “The entire tourism industry and our businesses could never be fully staffed with just the people who live in Cape May County.”
The J-1 program is exceedingly popular for tourism destinations with low population numbers, including both summer and winter resort areas. Clark said the open space and protected landscapes, such as local beaches, contribute to the program’s success.
“I think most people in Cape May County realize how valuable this program is because it’s not only valuable for the [international] students to experience what life is like in America — they go home and share that with their friends and family — it’s also great for the people here who may never travel to Romania, Thailand or Jamaica,” Clark said.
She said it’s great for residents and their children who work alongside international students to get a glimpse of different parts of the world.
“It’s a wonderful domestic program through the Department of State,” she added. “As we saw last year and the year before, without them our tourism industry and brand of customer service really does suffer.”
– By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Sentinel