Volusia County

Volusia County businesses still struggling to fill open jobs, get people in to interview

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Federal unemployment benefits are done in Florida, and people once again need to show they’re looking for work to get money from the state system. But some businesses say they still cannot get the workers they need even with those changes.

Those businesses say they’re seeing more people not even show up when they’re scheduled to interview, and that’s stretching the staff they have even thinner.

READ: Frustrations continue with Florida’s unemployment website

The Shores Resort and Spa is seeing some of its best numbers in years, but it’s still down about 50 staff positions from where general manager Rob Burnetti said it needs to be.

He thought that would change when the state stopped taking the federal unemployment supplement June 26.

“I expected more, but we really haven’t felt a ground swell of activity,” he said.

READ: Changes coming to Florida unemployment benefits, many Floridians still owed and locked out

The state is requiring those claiming unemployment to show they are looking for work in order to keep their benefits, but Burnetti said while they’ve gotten applicants and lined up interviews, almost 40% of them never show up.

“That’s kind of been a double whammy. My people who are busy taking care of guests are planning for this time, and now that’s wasted time because no one shows up, so that’s frustrating,” Burnetti said.

READ: Out-of-work Floridians will soon get less money as federal compensation program ends

Some places like the Waffle House on Seabreeze Boulevard in Daytona Beach have tried a more forward approach, like putting up a sign telling people the federal unemployment benefits are done and to apply within.

Management was not available to comment on if the approach is working.

Nancy Keefer with the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce said that from tech to hospitality, everyone is struggling to find workers.

READ: Shark bites 8-year-old boy in Volusia County, lifeguards say

She theorizes some who were laid off or furloughed during the pandemic may have found work elsewhere.

“They have gotten used to being able to work from home; some of them have started their own businesses and realize they can live in that particular world, entrepreneurial. A lot more remote work is available, so we see a lot of people taking that as an option,” she said.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.