Published February 13, 2014 07:00AM
Fewer People Applying for National Parks Jobs in 2014
One contractor still has close to 4,000 positions still available.
'Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park [image: Wikimedia Commons]'
Looking for work this summer? Xanterra, a Colorado-based concessions contractor that provides lodging and retail services within Yellowstone, Glacier, and Zion (among other national parks) announced this week that applications for its seasonal jobs are well below expected levels.
The Missoulianreports that the company is still seeking to fill nearly 4,000 part-time positions for the May-September high season, 600-700 of which are in Yellowstone alone. A spokesman for Xanterra attributed the labor shortage to an improving economic climate that is encouraging applicants to seek out full-time positions elsewhere rather than settle for temporary employment. In January, the U.S. unemployment rate ticked downward to 6.6%, more than a full percentage point lower than this time last year.
Read more: The Missoulian