SUMMER 2009 EDITION
JOBS»
Systems of recession: layoffs, jobhunting, hours cut
COLUMBIA — Jessica Kekal loves to swim and always went to the pool as a child.
"When my mom said you have to get a job to get your (driver's) license, my natural answer was to work at the pool," she said.
For seven years, Kekal has been at the Activity and Recreation Center, where she is now head manager of aquatics.
"I get about 40 hours a week because of my position, and I get paid enough that I'm OK to pay my rent," she said.
The national unemployment rate is hovering around 9.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Columbia is faring better with the rate just under 6 percent as of May. But that's not to say the job scene is without problems, and workers are noticing.
"I can still get 40 hours a week; I know several other managers that are not getting 40 hours a week, and they're all old enough that they have to pay their own bills," Kekal said.
Kekal said budget cuts have contributed to a cut in employee hours. In fact, she said, a pool manager was laid off Thursday.
The ARC has also seen a change in the worker pool, where older people are applying for jobs traditionally filled by younger workers.
ARC Aquatics Specialist S.J. Idel said he has noticed the pattern, particularly this summer.
"We had some retirees who wanted to get back into the workforce, and that actually kind of worked out for us,” Idel said. “We have some cashier positions that those guys are front line. It was really easy for us to hire somebody that had that experience that maybe a 15-year-old doesn't have."
Idel also said a lot of their adult applicants have been looking for extra income or for a way to get out of the house this summer.
"And by all means we're going to bring them on, and they're going to improve our program," Idel said.
Don Laird, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said he has noticed a similar trend.
"You can find retirees everywhere. The joke, of course — the Walmart greeter,” Laird said. “A lot of them want to try something different than what they did in their previous career after they retired. Some people like something a little more laid-back, and others want something more challenging."
Even with the addition of older employees at the ARC, Idel said jobs are still available for younger applicants.
"We actually hired more this year than we have in the past," Idel said, adding that more teen applicants are taking advantage of available lifeguard positions.