ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- There were only about 100 jobs available, and most of them will last for only three months.

Atlantic City workers
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
loading...

But that did not discourage a large crowd of applicants looking for work Wednesday at The Chelsea, a boutique non-casino hotel in Atlantic City. With 8,000 workers having lost their jobs when four casinos closed last year, there were many laid-off casino workers in line for a job, even a temporary one.

Among them was Ronald Roberts, who lost his job as a cook when the Showboat casino shut down last August. Since then he has had no luck finding work, and showed up at 8:30 in the morning for the 1 p.m. job fair, making him second in line.

"It's been rough, man. Can't find a job," he said. "I've been putting in applications and standing in lines and not getting any call backs. Unemployment is over; I need to support my family."

Roberts ideally would love another full-time job in the industry in which he worked for the past 15 years. But he'll take seasonal work, too.

"As long as I have something coming in, help with the bills," he said.

Next to him in line was Robert Hall, who hasn't found work since his seasonal job as a cook at the Borgata ended last fall.

"In this working world, it's really hard to find a job," he said. "I'm searching everywhere I can find, looking online every day, knocking on doors. I want this job bad."

The Chelsea is one of Atlantic City's so-called "boutique" hotels, and does not offer casino gambling -- yet. That could change if a proposal in the state Legislature to expand the eligibility for participation in New Jersey's boutique casino program is enacted. It would allow existing hotels with as few as 200 rooms to open a small casino; the minimum is currently 500 rooms.

Wednesday's job fair involved non-gambling jobs including restaurant and cocktail servers; bar porters; table bussers; cooks; lifeguards; pool attendants; room cleaners, desk clerks and other job titles. Chelsea owner Curtis Bashaw said most of the positions are seasonal summer jobs, but added some of the best hires will be kept on permanently.

"The superstars end up staying with us for year-round employment," he said.

He said the shutdown of four casinos last year has expanded the pool of experienced, knowledgeable employees already familiar with the Atlantic City hospitality market.

"We are seeing interest from people who were year-round employees at casino properties that are now closed," he said. "Obviously when there are layoffs in a particular marketplace, it benefits those who remain in operation."

 

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

 

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM