The most recent data from the Utah Department of Workforce Services suggests the unemployment rate rose again in November to 7.6 percent.
Some experts say that isn’t necessarily bad news since people who had given up trying to find a job were expected to begin trying again when the economy improved.
In Park City, local companies say they requested fewer visas for international workers this year in anticipation of more locals applying.
Chris Lampe, human resources director for Park City Mountain Resort said only 10 percent of the staff is made up of international workers this year. During the peak year about four seasons ago, they made up 20 percent, he said.
The number of applicants was up and his office was able to be more selective.
“We’re pretty happy with the quality of our applicants,” he said.
The early snow helped as well by allowing the resort to put everyone to work early, he added.
Elizabeth Dowd, spokesperson for Canyons Resort, said they received almost 10,000 applications for 1,200 seasonal positions.
Dan Howard, spokesperson for Montage, which opens Thursday, said they ended up holding nine separate job fairs and hired over 500 people.
Still, a few positions are still empty and locals are encouraged to apply.
Howard said the hotel is looking at candidates for 54 seasonal, on-call, part-time and full-time positions in the spa, in food and beverage service and in resort operations. He encourages people to find out more and apply at the hotel’s website at www.montagedeervalley.com/careers .
Kim Mayhew, director of human resources for Deer Valley Resort said more than one or two positions are still available for children’s programming, cooks and housekeepers. Only one or two positions are still available in a variety of other departments, Mayhew said.
An unusually large percentage of new hires have been from zip codes within a 35-mile radius, she said.
“Hiring for this season has been great. The unfortunate fallout from a struggling economy is lots of people are out of work,” she said. “Hiring has gone about the same as last year and has proved to be what we expected.”
Mayhew directs people to deervalley.com to learn more about the remaining openings.
Canyons still has about 60 positions left to fill, Dowd said.
“The quantity and quality of candidates has improved over the past three years,” she said.
Canyons has been able to be exclusive this season and believes its guests will be greeted by the most qualified mountain guides available.
“If you get through, you’re a rare and special individual,” she added.
The “Guide Selection” process helps the human resources department choose a diverse group with strong service acumen, Dowd said.