CASINO EMPLOYMENT


Casino Employment in the USA I


In this first part of a two-part report, Sharon Harris looks at the changes in attitudes towards qualifications and employment.


n years past, job seekers found work through newspaper “help wanted ads,” employment agencies, referrals from family/friends or walking in “cold” to a company. Publications typically divided the advertisements by male and female listings.


No more. Societal changes, advanced educational choices and technologies have simplified this process. Legislation also prohibits questioning sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or other defining characteristics. Women’s educational status in many professions has actually surpassed their male counterparts.


However, the nationwide annual price tag for college has spiralled upward of $50,000-$90,000 per student and that excludes the many professions that now require a post-graduate degree. How many can afford that?


As more people question the value of a college degree, employers of all sizes are shifting their hiring priorities. From 25/10/23-30/10/23, job recruiters RedBalloon and PublicSquare surveyed 70,000 small businesses for their Freedom Economy Index (FEI). 905 responses had a three per cent margin of error and 95 per cent confidence level.


Despite small respondent numbers, their diverse industries validated the survey. Two-thirds believe they received little “return on investment” (ROI) when hiring “graduating students with relevant skills that today’s business community needs.” 24.4 per cent claimed “somewhat no,” leaving only 8.7 per cent citing a positive ROI.


Ken Rusk, former construction worker and Blue Collar Cash author, recently claimed, “Colleges used to be a place where a degree… would only enhance… an already effective human being. Now we’re seeing colleges attach these degrees to people that literally can’t come out and


52 MAY 2024


do some of the life skills that we need.” Exploding college costs have put millions into significant debt. Since July 2010, students have borrowed directly from the federal government. Many believe a governmental guarantee of payment motivated colleges to increase tuitions and salaries. Repayment usually takes years.


President Joe Biden attempted to “forgive” a significant portion for hundreds of thousands that ultimately would use taxpayers’ money. In this election year, opponents say Biden’s “political ploy” panders to younger voters and is unfair to those who repaid loans or never attended college. A successful legal challenge and a Supreme Court decision voided this plan. Biden is trying again, tweaking the argument, and will likely face another challenge. FEI respondents’ comments also demonstrated a


subtle “disdain” for higher education and a renewed appreciation for blue-collar job applicants’ practical skills and work/life experience. In the survey, only 10 per cent viewed a college degree as a more hirable component, 41.5 per cent were neutral and 40-plus per cent would be less likely to hire someone with a college degree.


Why? Despite skyrocketing costs, isn’t a college degree still worth everything for a good job? Apparently, not. Major companies like Walmart, IBM, Bank of America and Google no longer require college degrees for many positions. Large and small casino operators/suppliers may also feel the same. Most also want no part in sifting through the backgrounds of anyone participating in the unrest at many of the nation’s universities. One major complaint is that so many college graduates seem unprepared for real-life challenges and career demands. Their unrealistic expectations of today’s workplace often result in stress and unsuccessful performance.


Rusk asserts that a certificate in many trades, which takes half the time, will cost up to 20 per cent of a college degree. An employee is also simultaneously earning and learning rather than paying to learn and hoping the new job matches any debt obligations.


When computer hackers attacked Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International last fall, MGM CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle voiced disappointment with a generational gap between those raised on computer keyboards and those who understood manual tasks. The “all- hands-on-deck” process minimised damage and customer inconvenience. Recovery was hindered by many employees lacking critical thinking skills to spontaneously find solutions and remain flexible. He said, “I’m at the age where many of these


systems weren’t automated to begin with. You suddenly find yourself going… this is what you need to do here. It was an interesting cultural moment…” Research reveals that different generations born within a 15-20-year span have differing attitudes on the workplace. Historic events that occurred during their lifetimes may have also shaped their behaviour. Gen Z includes those born from 1997-2002, the typical age for new college graduates. They are often hired by Baby Boomers (1946-1965), Gen X (1965-1980) and Millennials (1981-1996), who have lived through wars and economic challenges. All expect a solid work ethic and commitment to the job.


Employers and customers who cite the same frustration claim it lessens the customer experience. That is exactly what the casino industry must battle because its overwhelming public appeal is all about a positive experience.


Part Two will explore how employers are


striving to hire the best and brightest, whether they be college graduates or trades workers.


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