If any of your kids still need a job for the summer season, send them down the shore.

Jenkinson's Boardwalk
Jenkinson's Boardwalk (Dino Flammia, Townsquare Media NJ)
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Some boardwalks and piers along New Jersey's coast are struggling to fill a number of their job openings, and they don't exactly know why.

According to Denise Beckson, director of operations and human resources at Morey's Piers in the Wildwoods, job applications are down 14 percent compared to last year.

"We have a couple hundred positions still left to fill," Beckson said. "We'll be hiring further into the summer than we typically have."

So the piers will be short some employees, from rides to food, for next weekend's unofficial start to summer, Beckson noted, but they'll "be fine."

Beyond keeping the application process open longer than usual, Beckson said hired workers will be asked if they're interested in picking up extra hours, either in the same position or in another department.

Positions are also available at the ride park, arcades, stands and beach along Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach. That wasn't the case this time last year, according to marketing director Toby Wolf.

"Usually we're pretty good after the job fairs, and this year we had to do a little bit of a later push to keep filling positions," Wolf said. "I don't know if it's the fact that Mother Nature hasn't been cooperating with us."

Beckson attributes the declining interest to an improving economy. Fewer parents are requiring their teen and college-aged students to get a summer job, she said.

Applicant shortages aren't being reported at every major amusement site along the shore.

Anthony Catanoso, president of Steel Pier in Atlantic City, has no employment worries for the upcoming summer season.

"Between our local help and our foreign exchange students, we're fully staffed," Catanoso said.

Contact New Jersey 101.5 reporter Dino Flammia at Dino.Flammia@townsquaremedia.com

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