Albuquerque hotel has more than a dozen openings, but manager says they can't find workers Updated: 2:57 AM MDT Apr 17, 2021 Share Updated: 2:57 AM MDT Apr 17, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript SERVE UNTIL A FULL-TIME REPLACEMENT IS APPOINTED. AND NEW NUMBERS OUT TODAY SHOW NEW MEXICO’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS THE THIRD HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY AT 8.3%. DOUG: BUT WHY ARE SOME BUSINESSES HAVING PROBLEMS HIRING ACTION 7 NEWS ANCHOR KALYN NORWOOD IS LIVE AT HOTEL PARQ CENTRAL WITH ANSWERS. KALYN: A MANAGER TELLS ME THEY HAVE MORE THAN A DOZEN POSITIONS AVAILABLE, BUT CAN’T SEEM TO FILL THEM. HE BELIEVES UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE TO BLAME. I REACHED OUT TO A BUSINESS PROFESSOR AT UNM FOR ANSWERS. THE GOOD NEWS IS BUSINESS AT HOTEL PARQ CENTRAL IS PICKING BACK UP SINCE THE PANDEMIC, BUT -- >> WE ARESHORT EVERYWHERE. KALYN: EVERYONE IS PULLING DOUBLE DUTY, FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR WORKING THE FRONT DESK TO AN EMPLOYEE IN ENGINEERING WASHING WINDOWS. >> I HAVE JOBS OPEN IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, JUST NOBODY IS OUT WILLING TO WORK RIGHT NOW. KALYN: MANAGER YANCY STURGEON SAYS THEY HAVE A THIRD OF THE EMPLOYEES THEY HAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND RIGHT NOW HAVE AT LEAST 15 OPEN POSITIONS, FROM HOUSE KEEPING TO BAR STAFF, BUT NO TAKERS. WE’VE LISTED IT IN INDEED, CRAIGSLIST, THE PAPER, WE’ LISTED EVERYWHERE WE CAN, SHORT OF PUTTING UP A BIG SIGN ON THE FRONT OF THE HOTEL. KALYN: STURGEON BELIEVES IT HAS TO DO WITH UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. TURNS OUT ECONOMIC STUDIES ARE MIXED ON IF THAT’S THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. >> UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WER HISTORICALLY HIGH IN THE LAST YEAR, BUT ONE STUDY CAME OUT AND THEY FOUND THERE WAS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIGHER BENEFITS AND FEWER PEOPLE LOOKING FOR JOBS, AND ANOTHER STUDY WHICH WAS MORE RECENT THAT JUST CAME OUT LAST YEAR SHOWED THERE WAS NO REAL EFFECT IN AFFECTING PEOPLE’S WORK FOR JOBS. KALYN: REILLY WHITE, A PROFESSOR AT UNM’S BUSINESS SCHOOL, SAYS OTHERS FACTORS ARE AT PLAY LIKE AGING DEMOGRAPHICS, INCREASING EDUCATION LEVELS AND PUTTI -- LEVELS AND -- >> PUTTING PRESSURES ON HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ARE WAGE INCREASES IN OTHER PLACES. KALYN: MEANING BUSINESSES MAY HAVE TO PAY HIGHER WAGES. STURGEON SAYS THEY’RE HAVING TO PAY UP, AND THEY’RE STILL IN NEED OF MORE WORKERS. >> IF WE DON’T HAVE THE EMPLOYEES, I CAN’T RUN THE HOTEL. WE CAN ONLY CLEAN SO MANY ROOM A DAY AND I GOT TO HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF. KALYN: WHITE SUGGESTS BUSINESSES ADVERTISE THE HIGHER WAGES IF THEY HAVE THEM. OVERALL, HE BELIEVES IT WILL TAKE A COUPLE YEARS FOR NEW MEXICO TO BOUNCE BACK TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS. DOUG: AS FOR THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN OUR NEIGHBORING STATE,