Help Wanted

The days are getting warmer in the South Okanagan and many businesses are starting to get ready for another busy summer season.

But a challenge is facing Penticton and area businesses - finding enough qualified employees to make the season run smoothly.

General manager of the Penticton Golf and Country Club, Terry Montgomery, says finding employees can be challenging.

“Last year was very hard for us to fill all our positions and we are expecting this year to be the same. We will be needing at least four more experienced people for our food area,” says Montgomery.

He says people just aren't coming to work in the South Okanagan between May and September as much as they used to.

“People go where there is more money than the service industry can provide. We try to make ourselves an attractive employer by offering golf as a benefit, plus the chance to work in a beautiful outdoors environment,” says Montgomery.

Economic Development Officer for Penticton, Wayne Tebbutt, says he doesn't believe the cost of living in the South Okanagan is a deterrent for seasonal workers.

“If they were to go work in Vancouver or any part of the Lower Mainland, the cost of living would be about the same, so I don't think that keeps them away,” says Tebbutt.

He says the Chamber of Commerce has a website devoted to helping local businesses post job openings.

“We have about 550 jobs listed for Penticton, most in the service industry. I believe that is only about half of the jobs that will be available come June,” says Tebbutt.

He says many people are now choosing to work full time instead of seasonally, which is one of the reasons some employers have trouble finding workers.