Ski Resorts Struggle to Hire Amid Trump's Student Visa Ban
2020-10-06
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1Milagros Sotelo had plans to travel from South America to Tennessee to work at Ober Gatlinburg ski resort this winter.
2The 22-year-old student worked the last two winters in the equipment rental store at the small resort in the Smoky Mountains.
3She wanted to see old friends as well as improve her English.
4She also wanted to take a break from law school in Lima, Peru, where she lives.
5But on June 22, President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily barring many foreign worker visas.
6It includes the J-1 visas that South American students often get to come to North America during their summer break.
7Sotelo had to cancel her plans. Now, she is trying to find a job in Lima.
8Ski resorts are trying to operate safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
9Measures like face coverings and social distancing are required.
10But Trump's order has added another problem: how to get enough workers.
11Trump argued that foreigners are a risk to American workers as the country tries to restart its economy.
12"American workers compete [with]...millions of aliens who enter the United States to perform temporary work," the order states.
13It will expire at the end of 2020.
14But Sotelo argues that there are lots of jobs at or near ski resorts.
15Industry leaders agree. They say it is difficult to fill temporary jobs with American workers.
16"A big part of the reason is - and this is true even during COVID - most Americans want a year-round job," said Dave Byrd.
17He is a director at the National Ski Areas Association, NSAA.
18Byrd said between 7,000 and 8,000 J-1 workers fill jobs at many of the country's 470 ski resorts every winter.
19Another 1,000 to 2,000 workers come to U.S. resorts on H-2B visas.
20Those are also barred by Trump's order.
21In total, foreign guest workers make up around 7 percent of the workforce at U.S. ski resorts, Byrd said.
22Those workers, he said, are very important.
23In July, the NSAA released a report that said just over 50 percent of the 202 ski resorts questioned said they could not find enough workers for the 2019-2020 winter season
24Byrd said it is also hard to find workers because many ski resorts are in rural areas with costly housing.
25Well-known ski areas like Vail and Telluride in Colorado, Taos in New Mexico and Jackson Hole in Wyoming are very costly to live in, Byrd noted.
26Vail Resorts owns 33 ski areas in the country.
27It has always used foreign workers.
28Now it is looking in local communities to find workers for this winter.
29They have found that American college students are interested in these jobs now because they are not living on college campuses.
30The coronavirus crisis permits them to take their studies with them to a ski resort.
31As for hiring Americans, "we...have been pleased with the results so far," said Vail Resorts spokesman Ryan Huff.
32But small resorts are worried about their opening day.
33At Ober Gatlinburg, student workers from Brazil, Peru and the Dominican Republic usually fill about 150 jobs.
34Many small resorts often have unfilled jobs, but "it's become very critical now," said Jerry Huskey.
35He has worked for the resort for 20 years, and usually spent September and October hiring foreign students.
36Huskey started hiring workers on J-1 visas in the mid-1990s after a strong economy made it hard to hire Americans.
37Over the years, the numbers grew among foreign students.
38"It's a good exchange of information and cultures...They want to see what goes on in the U.S," Huskey said.
39"We're losing out on having them," he added.
40I'm Susan Shand.
1Milagros Sotelo had plans to travel from South America to Tennessee to work at Ober Gatlinburg ski resort this winter. The 22-year-old student worked the last two winters in the equipment rental store at the small resort in the Smoky Mountains. She wanted to see old friends as well as improve her English. She also wanted to take a break from law school in Lima, Peru, where she lives. 2But on June 22, President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily barring many foreign worker visas. It includes the J-1 visas that South American students often get to come to North America during their summer break. 3Sotelo had to cancel her plans. Now, she is trying to find a job in Lima. 4Ski resorts are trying to operate safely during the coronavirus pandemic. Measures like face coverings and social distancing are required. But Trump's order has added another problem: how to get enough workers. 5Trump argued that foreigners are a risk to American workers as the country tries to restart its economy. 6"American workers compete [with]...millions of aliens who enter the United States to perform temporary work," the order states. It will expire at the end of 2020. 7But Sotelo argues that there are lots of jobs at or near ski resorts. 8Industry leaders agree. They say it is difficult to fill temporary jobs with American workers. 9"A big part of the reason is - and this is true even during COVID - most Americans want a year-round job," said Dave Byrd. He is a director at the National Ski Areas Association, NSAA. 10Byrd said between 7,000 and 8,000 J-1 workers fill jobs at many of the country's 470 ski resorts every winter. Another 1,000 to 2,000 workers come to U.S. resorts on H-2B visas. Those are also barred by Trump's order. In total, foreign guest workers make up around 7 percent of the workforce at U.S. ski resorts, Byrd said. Those workers, he said, are very important. 11In July, the NSAA released a report that said just over 50 percent of the 202 ski resorts questioned said they could not find enough workers for the 2019-2020 winter season 12Byrd said it is also hard to find workers because many ski resorts are in rural areas with costly housing. 13Well-known ski areas like Vail and Telluride in Colorado, Taos in New Mexico and Jackson Hole in Wyoming are very costly to live in, Byrd noted. 14Vail Resorts owns 33 ski areas in the country. It has always used foreign workers. Now it is looking in local communities to find workers for this winter. They have found that American college students are interested in these jobs now because they are not living on college campuses. The coronavirus crisis permits them to take their studies with them to a ski resort. 15As for hiring Americans, "we...have been pleased with the results so far," said Vail Resorts spokesman Ryan Huff. But small resorts are worried about their opening day. 16At Ober Gatlinburg, student workers from Brazil, Peru and the Dominican Republic usually fill about 150 jobs. 17Many small resorts often have unfilled jobs, but "it's become very critical now," said Jerry Huskey. He has worked for the resort for 20 years, and usually spent September and October hiring foreign students. 18Huskey started hiring workers on J-1 visas in the mid-1990s after a strong economy made it hard to hire Americans. Over the years, the numbers grew among foreign students. 19"It's a good exchange of information and cultures...They want to see what goes on in the U.S," Huskey said. 20"We're losing out on having them," he added. 21I'm Susan Shand. 22The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 23________________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25ski - v. to move through the snow on boards attached to one's legs 26resort - n. a large hotel where one stays for pleasure 27rental --adj. relating to goods or property that people pay to use temporarily, such as equipment or living spaces 28pandemic - n. a worldwide contagious disease 29alien - n. a non-national 30hire - v. to employ 31campus - n. the area around a university or college