When Greg Cutchall recently opened a new Famous Dave's restaurant near 131st Street and West Maple Road, he received almost 500 applicants for the 80 available jobs.
The high demand Cutchall experienced suggests that even with the improved economy, the job market this summer remains tight for young workers.
“There may be more people than jobs to go around,'' said Cutchall, owner of a firm that operates almost two dozen restaurants in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. “We feel fortunate we've kind of come out of the doldrums. But it could be a lot of entry-level (employers) have not.''
And that could mean a particularly challenging environment for youths from north Omaha, who often face challenges that can further dim their job prospects.
If anyone was hoping that private employers would pick up the slack from the loss of a federally funded job program for low-income youths, contacts with several companies that traditionally have employed many north Omaha residents suggest that won't be the case.
Here's what some employers said of their hiring prospects this summer:
Lozier Corp.
An important employer in north Omaha for decades, the maker of store shelving and fixtures recently hired 90 temporary workers after having laid off 25 last year. While business is up, uncertainty about the retail economy will make the company cautious before hiring new full-time workers, said Dianne Seeman, corporate counsel. The company does have some current openings. The work is physically demanding and pays $12 an hour.
Marianna Industries
The manufacturer of beauty care products continued to grow throughout the downturn and has had recent openings. Most jobs require a high school diploma or equivalent, and most recent hires have had experience in manufacturing jobs.
Omaha Parks and Recreation
Recently hired about 800 workers for the summer for pools, park maintenance, golf courses and youth programs, about the same number as in the past. “A lot of our hires are college students,'' said Parks Director Melinda Pearson. “We do hire kids from all over the city.''
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