'They're needing to buy presents': Bay businesses face wave of new applicants for holidays

PANAMA CITY — Could the holiday season be part of the reason more people have recently applied for jobs across Bay County?

Along with a few other factors, Kim Bodine, executive director of CareerSource Gulf Coast, says yes.

"Historically, we do see an uptick in people seeking employment this time of year due to the holidays," Bodine said. "A lot of people pick up second jobs to have (more) money ... but we've also seen a number of people re-entering the workforce probably as a combination of the reduction of federal benefits, increases in wages and really also feeling safer regarding the COVID-19 (pandemic)."

Need a job?: Panama City Beach businesses struggling to hire employees

Bay County: Unemployment is more than 11%

According to information provided by Bodine, the unemployment rate for Bay County in October was 3.6%. November's data won't be released for a couple of weeks.

October's number ties September as the lowest rates in 2021, with the highest rate of the year — 4.9% — in June.

These numbers are dramatically lower than the double-digit highs the area experienced during the summer of 2020, shortly after the coronavirus first made local headlines, created many restrictions for businesses and crippled the economy.

"Although we still are seeing a little bit of a tightness in the labor force, I don't think it's because people are sitting on the sidelines," Bodine said. "I just believe we have had some shifts. The economy seems to be recovering very well."

Past reports state that people who collected both full state unemployment — $275 a week — and full federal unemployment — $300 a week — made about the same as someone earning $14 a hour.

The federal benefits, which expired earlier this year, "put a big dent" in the local employee pool that seems to be leveling out, said Stephanie Lauderdale, owner of Chicken Salad Chick in Panama City.

However, Lauderdale reported a much less aggressive wave of applicants than Bodine described.

"We're seeing a few more applicants come out, but it is (still) almost like employees are not serious about working," Lauderdale said. "They come and apply, kind of go through the process, and they're still a little more reluctant for longevity."

She noted that her business opened in September 2020 and has grappled with being short staffed practically its entire existence. It now has more than 20 employees, with other positions still available.

Like Bodine, she said the slight increase in recent applicants could be linked to the holidays.

"They're needing to buy presents for their family members, pay bills or things like that over the holidays," Lauderdale said. "I'm hopeful that (more) people will get back out there and start wanting to live a normal life again."

Jacob Titts, manager of reservations at Gulf World Marine Park, said his organization also has experienced a wave of new applications for all positions during the past couple of months.

For him, this is a bit frustrating considering the park could have used the help during the summer. Operating on a seasonal schedule tailored around peak tourist months, Gulf World now has a reduced staff for the off season.

It had between 80 to 100 employees on Thursday, which is about 50 to 75 less than needed during the summer.

"We were short staffed for most of the summer," Titts said. "It (wasn't until) about halfway through this year that we got to a point where we felt that we were comfortable with the amount of (employees) that we had."

He agreed with both Bodine and Lauderdale that the holidays could be a reason for the uptick. He also said it could be because many younger applicants are home from school and looking for a part-time job.

"People are needing a little more income ... for the holidays," Titts said. "Also, a large portion of our employees ... are temporary employees (and) younger, high-school (aged) kids and college students. ... We normally have an influx in applications during times like summer and winter breaks."

While larger businesses like Gulf World and Chicken Salad Chick were able to recover enough employees during the past year to not be dangerously short-staffed, other smaller businesses do not have enough resources to afford that luxury.

Adrienne Parker, owner of Presents of Mine, said she is one of only two workers at her embroidery gift shop located in the Shoppes At Edgewater. She would prefer to have at least two more.

This has created a work environment with a lot of pressure.

"There's financial stress. There's emotional stress," Parker said. "If one of us gets sick then (everything) falls onto the other, and it's my responsibility (as the owner). I'm the one who has to be here regardless. ... There are definitely drawbacks to operating with such a skeleton staff."

Still, she added that her current situation gives her hope for the future.

The business opened in May 2018, just months before Hurricane Michael destroyed the Panhandle. If it can survive the Category 5 storm and a worldwide pandemic, Parker is confident it can survive anything.

"Hopefully, we'll have a year where nothing happens," she said. "That gives me hope because we have been able to withstand all of that, so (who knows) where we would (be) if none of that would have happened."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County businesses see wave of new applicants for holiday season