Sharp Decline in Atlantic City Casino Jobs

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 12/19/2020

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We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

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Sharp Decline in Atlantic City Casino Jobs

Many people living in and around Atlantic City have earned a living by working in the casino industry over recent years.

This is an industry that employs people in a range of capacities, from dealers and waiting staff to kitchen staff and more. In 2019, there were more than 22,000 people employed by the casinos in the area, but this has dropped sharply in 2020.

According to recently released data, there has been a sharp decline in casino jobs. This will not come as a huge surprise to most people given the huge issues casinos have faced this year due to lockdowns and ongoing restrictions due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The situation has led to thousands of people losing their jobs in the casinos.

What the Data Shows

The figures were released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, and they make for bleak reading. Both full-time and part-time jobs have been affected, the latter even more so. In total there were 4,670 fewer people working at the nine casinos in Atlantic City in October 2020 compared to October 2019.

This represents a total drop of around 17 percent in terms of casino workers in Atlantic City. The fall also reflects the fourth straight month where the percentage dropped by double-digits. According to the report, the figures also include casino workers who have been furloughed as a result of the global pandemic.

One official said that staffing cutbacks had become necessary for many casinos due to the difficult situation. She said:

The pandemic has simultaneously suppressed consumer demand and increased the cost of doing business because of safety precautions to protect employees and guests, forcing casino operators to scale back other expenses wherever possible.

The figures showed that the number of full-time jobs in October fell by 21 percent compared to the same period last year. However, the number of part-time jobs declined by double that amount, falling by 42 percent compared to a year earlier. Seasonal, temporary and on-call jobs, as well as furloughed staff, increased by 22 percent.

Situation Could Get Worse

There is no doubt that the impact of COVID-19 on casino workers has been huge, with many in places such as Atlantic City and Las Vegas losing their jobs. This has been down to not only the closures during the first lockdown but also the ongoing restrictions, including a cap on operational capacity.

Many now fear the situation could continue to get worse as the second wave of the pandemic grips the nation. Some states are already bringing in increased restrictions again because of the rising COVID-19 rates in their areas.

As winter sets in, the virus may tighten its grip on the nation and infection rates could continue to soar. This will probably lead to further restrictions and could lead to mass closures again.

For those who have lost their casino jobs over recent months, the situation has been made worse by the fact that all hospitality and many other types of businesses have been affected. This then reduces their chances of being able to get another job.