DENVER -- Necole Lowe was the Prospect Airport Services' recruitment head. He sat at a table in Denver Airport's outdoor plaza where a job fair was taking place.
Prospect has slightly more than 200 employees on its payroll. Prospect contracts with Southwest, Frontier, and Delta to provide Denver wheelchair attendants and baggage handlers. Lowe stated that Denver's total staff would include at least 250 workers.
The company raised its minimum entry-level wage from $14.50 an hour to $15.50 to close the gap. The manager's hourly pay has been increased by $19 to $15.50.
Lowe is encouraged about halfway through the fair. She said, "I have at most 10 resumes here." "I'm very happy. Very happy.
These job fairs have become a regular feature at airports across the country over the past three to four months. Airports and the many businesses that work within them are trying to increase staffing levels in response to the sudden rise in U.S. airline travel in the summer and late spring. However, it has been difficult to fill positions in the current tight job market, particularly at the lower end.
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Matt Cornelius, executive Vice President for the trade group Airports Council International -- North America said that it is difficult to translate an interview with someone who shows interest into them being employed.
Denver had approximately 30 employers looking for 700 jobs, including United Airlines, United Airlines, United Airlines, United Airlines, United Airlines Westin, United Airlines, United Airlines, United Airlines and other airport businesses.
Alex Renteria, an airport spokeswoman, reported that "We are pretty much back at pre-pandemic levels [of need], with less staffing."
Southwest recently stated that the challenges of hiring groundworkers at six to eight stations, including Denver (including Denver), weighed on its operations and contributed to its poor performance in the first half and high cancellation rates.
Allegiant is another carrier who has put operational problems down to staffing shortages at contracting companies that it uses for groundworkers.
Renteria stated that the Denver staff shortages are only having a modest impact on flyers.
Because of the staffing, you might have to wait a bit longer in line at one of our restaurants. She said that patience is a virtue.
Airport officials describe other urgent issues.
SAS Services Group Denver general manager Jorge Gonzalez at a recent job fair. This company supplies wheelchair attendants to several airlines. Robert Silk, Photo Credit
Salt Lake City airport, for instance, says that many employers, including TSA, shops and car rental agencies, are having difficulty finding staff.
Salt Lake City encourages flyers to arrive at the airport earlier.
Nancy Volmer, spokeswoman for the airport, stated that "the issue has also delayed opening of some concessions at the airport."
Rob Wigington is the executive director of Airport Restaurant and Retail Association (ARRA), a trade association. He said that he has heard many stories about recent airport job fairs which yielded very few results for concessionaires. According to one Florida-based airport concessionaire, out of 400 applicants they could expect to hire four.
Although the ARRA does not track the percentages of airport shops or restaurants that are closed, or have restricted hours or offer a limited menu or don't operate at all, he estimates it to be around 30%. Sometimes hours are cut due to low demand. However, staff shortages often cause this.
Although hiring is difficult for many service sector employers, airport-based businesses face additional hurdles, according to both Wigington, Cornelius. Many airports are located in remote areas, which can pose a problem. Cornelius said that federal background checks are a challenge for any potential airport worker. This can take several days, or even weeks. The applicant may have taken a similar job, possibly closer to home, by the time these checks are completed.
Airports are experiencing a reduction in restaurant and retail hours, making hungry passengers feel the brunt. This is compounded by the unusually difficult summer for airlines to maintain operational reliability.
Spirit Airlines cancelled more than 60% of its flights on consecutive days in the first week. These episodes leave thousands of flyers stuck in airports for hours, with many grabbing whatever shops or restaurants are open.
Cornelius stated that "it certainly impacts the experience of customers, and not in the best way."
Prospect Airport Services, however, is not the only employer in Denver that has increased wages or offered incentives to employees in order to fill their openings. For example, the management company of Dunkin' Donuts airport offered $500 sign-on bonuses to cashiers.
Mission Yogurt manages nine airport restaurants and has increased the starting wage for line cooks, from $15 to $18.
Paul Flores, operations manager, stated that the company took this decision earlier than other concessionaires and it was a good move. Mission Management runs all restaurants and quick-serve outlets that have full opening hours.
Nevertheless, the airport needed an additional 20 employees.
Flores had modest goals for the job fair.
He said, "We'd love to find two or three."
