With an estimated 11,000 jobs lost over the past few years due to casino closures in Atlantic City, including 3,000 from the Taj Mahal's shutdown in October, you'd think snagging an open casino job in the gambling town would be a nearly impossible task.

That's apparently not the case, according to state data.

Matthew Levinson, chairman and CEO of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, said a February survey of the seven remaining Atlantic City casinos points to nearly 830 unfilled positions. While some are part-time, seasonal or temporary, more than 500 openings call for full-time help.

Positions include dealers, cooks, servers, guest room attendants (housekeeping) and even some management openings, he said. And that doesn't include jobs at retailers and restaurants not owned by the casinos themselves.

Winter is the best time to grab a spot on staff, ahead of the spring and summer months when out-of-towners may be looking for seasonal employment, he added.

"This is a way to get into the door and show the casino industry what you're worth," Levinson said. "I'm really just trying to figure out how to get a connection from the people that are looking for work, to where there is actual work."

While there are no solid reasons for the disconnect between out-of-work locals and open positions, Levinson noted some folks may no longer be interested in what could be a shaky casino career. Or those who were let go by the Atlantic City casino industry chose to take a position in an out-of-state market. Competing casinos have unloaded some heavy recruitment efforts in the area over the past year or so.

 

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