Why Are All the U.S. Vacation Spot Workers Russian?

[momof2inPA]

We went to the Outer Banks last year, and all the young college age kid jobs were taken by Russian kids. I thought that was odd, but oh well. Then, we went to Destin, FL this year and same thing-- all the kids in the shops and working fast food were Russian. Now, the turnpike workers in Ohio and NY are a bunch of Russians. Apparently, this is some "foreign worker" program where these kids are shipped over to ostensibly practice their English, while being provided housing and jobs.

Funny thing, we went to Niagara Falls, Canada and Niagara on the Lake this weekend and all the college age kid workers were-- Canadian.

So, why can the Canadians employ their own citizens to work these jobs and we can't? Do they pay the kids more? I'm sure the employers who are using the Russian workers here in the U.S. are doing it to save money, but shouldn't they have to offer those jobs to U.S. kids first?

 

[debster812]

Well, we were in Myrtle Beach at the beginning of August. Were there some Eastern European kids working? Sure. There were also English, Australian, a and native South Carolinans. I certainly don't think ALL US Vacation Spot workers are Russian.

I'm sure there are programs set up though. Especially in this current 'get ahead' society we're forcing on our kids. When I was in college, I WAS a lifeguard. It was awesome. My nephew is a sophomore in college, this summer between his frosh and soph year, he interned at an Advertising Agency. No fun job for him.

I think it's a combination of these kids from other countries jumping at the chance to come here, work some, learn English, and spend time in the US.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

We went to the Outer Banks last year, and all the young college age kid jobs were taken by Russian kids. I thought that was odd, but oh well. Then, we went to Destin, FL this year and same thing-- all the kids in the shops and working fast food were Russian. Now, the turnpike workers in Ohio and NY are a bunch of Russians. Apparently, this is some "foreign worker" program where these kids are shipped over to ostensibly practice their English, while being provided housing and jobs.

Funny thing, we went to Niagara Falls, Canada and Niagara on the Lake this weekend and all the college age kid workers were-- Canadian.

So, why can the Canadians employ their own citizens to work these jobs and we can't? Do they pay the kids more? I'm sure the employers who are using the Russian workers here in the U.S. are doing it to save money, but shouldn't they have to offer those jobs to U.S. kids first?

I can only speak to the outer banks. There is some type of program that brings a bunch of kids over from all over Northern and Eastern Europe, where they come over and work the summer. Its kind of an Exchange program, from what we were told. We met a lot of kids from Poland, Ireland and some Scandavian countires when we were there. If you didn't notice, there isn't a real local community in the outer banks. Especially at the northern end around Duck and Corolla. My guess, is that can't get kids to drive up from mainland to work those minimum wage jobs. If you ever go to the Outer Banks during the off season, those kids are replaced with retirees.

 

[Claire L]

Yes drove us mad last year at the National Parks, we came to see the natural beauty and talk to people who grew up in the area or were at least American, but no they were mainly Russian/Ukrainian etc

Claire

 

[DrCavin]

Well, we were in Myrtle Beach at the beginning of August. Were there some Eastern European kids working? Sure. There were also English, Australian, a and native South Carolinans. I certainly don't think ALL US Vacation Spot workers are Russian.

Was near MB 2 weeks ago, many of the workers at Barefoot Landing were Eastern European, remaining seemed to be retirees. Our server at T-Bones was from South Carolina & was middle-aged I would guess.

I don't use the turnpike often, but am surprised they are using non-residents.

Canada has some strict laws on hiring Canadians first, so maybe that is why...

 

[KelNottAt]

It's my understanding that many of the businesses in Ocean City, Maryland employ foreign kids, too. This is because housing is too expensive in that town for American college kids to afford.

So, the businesses recruit Eastern European kids to work the amusement park rides, bus tables, clean condos, etc. They give these kids crowded housing and low wages.

Sure, they'd offer the same to American kids. But, from what I hear, US teens aren't interested in "sardine" shelter or minimum wages. Instead of spending the summer working at the beach (like I did back in the 80's) they return home and live with Mom and Dadn for free.

 

[TXTink]

DH and I just returned from a trip to The Grand Canyon, Bryce, Jackson Hole, The Tetons, and Yellowstone. We were surprised at the amount of workers Europe. We thought that there must not be enough American workers to fill all of the spots needed for all the tourism in the Summer months. We thought there must be some sort of program much like the international cast members Disney hires.

In Yellowstone there seemed to be many retired folks working there for the Summer. I thought that was a great idea!

 

[LukenDC]

In the Washington, DC area the local amusement parks and swimming pools hire Eastern Europeans to work the summers. The US has a low unemployment rate and companies with a high demand for seasonal workers need to import their labor from abroad in order to become fully staffed. The Eastern Europeans often work jobs that Americans do not want. It's also a great way for people from budding democracies to get to know the US.

A couple of years ago there was a scandal involving Romanian and Bulgarian youths brought to the Washington area to work as lifeguards. The company that hired them made all sorts of false promises and exploited them. It was so sad to read about these young people who were brought here with high expectations and excitement and then mistreated. Thankfully the company that hired them was investigated and penalized by Maryland.

 

[LukenDC]

So, why can the Canadians employ their own citizens to work these jobs and we can't?

Canada has a higher unemployment rate than the USA.

 

[talulabelle]

because US kids are "too good" for those jobs. They now think that to get a good job they can't have "waitress" on their resume, they need to intern for free at places and live off mom and dad. Since they think they are "too highly educated" to work for minimum wage and tips, they rather live at home.

I'm noticing that all of the McDonald's in our town are starting to be Russian workers too.

 

[Rozzie]

because US kids are "too good" for those jobs. They now think that to get a good job they can't have "waitress" on their resume, they need to intern for free at places and live off mom and dad. Since they think they are "too highly educated" to work for minimum wage and tips, they rather live at home.

I'm noticing that all of the McDonald's in our town are starting to be Russian workers too.

Exactly. We have a lot of Eastern Europe, Russian kids in our area working. All the kids I have met have been great, funny, and very personable.

Why is it a problem? US kids won't do it.....

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Further you should know that these "kids" are recruited through sanctioned headhunters and these headhunters get 50% of the sponsored workers wages!!!! Nonetheless the are generally happy to be here and do fill jobs that our American youth are no longer too interested in filling.

 

[Christine]

There was an article in the Washington Post last year about this matter. It spotlighted the hiring of Eastern Europeans in Ocean City, MD. It was actually a very sad article.

Basically, the resort business have to go out and get these kids because U.S. kids are more interested in interning at corporations and more "white collar" types of businesses as it seems to be "necessary" on the resume these days.

I do remember, back in the day, that one of the "dream" jobs was to get a waitress job at a very busy beach restaurant, room with a few other girls, and have a blast.

I don't know what changed--the economy, the kids, the rental prices, but it's definitely changed.

 

[punkin]

I noticed this last summer and this summer as well. I really have to wonder how little these young adults actually get paid and where they live in these pricey resort areas.

 

[maelstrom]

There are Eastern European people working in Atlantic City year round; quite a few Russians and Ukrainians, I've found. A lot of them push those carts on the boardwalk, but I've seen them as servers, store clerks, cocktail waitresses, etc. It also looks like the Sbarro in the Taj Mahal is run by Eastern Europeans (there's always two girls who help us, Olga and Oksana, and it appears that everyone in there speaks Russian or Ukrainian (not sure which, they're pretty similar); never heard Italian spoken in that pizza place haha). It doesn't bother me because I am of Ukrainian descent and I like hearing all of the language and accents.

 

[Kath2003]

Where I worked this summer there were less than 10% British summer workers. The majority were from Eastern Europe, Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Obviously they were paid the same wage as I was.

 

[bavaria]

Canada has a higher unemployment rate than the USA.

6.0% vs 4.6%, with significantly higher rates of unemployment in many provinces and territories. And Canada has typically struggled economically, far behind the US.

Diversity is a good thing!

 

[Crankyshank]

I don't think I've encountered any Europeans working at the local "vacation spots" I've been to around here in New England.

 

[talulabelle]

I don't think I've encountered any Europeans working at the local "vacation spots" I've been to around here in New England.

wait a couple of years, it's coming.

 

[daisax]

Cape Cod has long had a very heavy (illegal) Irish work force. Now that the Irish economy has improved, the numbers have dropped, and are being replaced with other foreign ethnic groups.

I agree, though, that the summer resort jobs simply aren't palatable to teens any more.