efuardCities in the Phoenix area are still struggling to hire more lifeguards ahead of summer season
Many public pools across the U.S. and in Arizona are facing a lifeguard shortage, and officials are trying numerous things to help lure people to fill those positions.
PHOENIX — As the weather starts to warm up, more people will be heading to the pools, but there is still a real need to hire lifeguards before pools can open for the summer.
Currently, almost every town across Arizona is looking to hire lifeguards for the upcoming season, along with almost every career field, and this comes after the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the industry.
Across the country, officials with the American Lifeguard Association said about a third of the country’s public pools are at risk of being shut down, or having their hours changed to accommodate the staffing shortage.
In Scottsdale, city officials are offering higher pay during peak times, and they may also reimburse people for any training classes.
“It’s a great job. It’s the most fun job you’ll ever have, but it’s also the most serious jobs, so you get a lot of valuable life experience out of it,” said Clark.
In Phoenix, officials are offering $2,500 in incentive pay for certified lifeguards, and in Mesa, lifeguards are starting out at about $16.30 per hour, according to their website.
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