The unofficial start to summer is less than one week away. Businesses up and down New Jersey have been prepping for months, though some are still struggling with a labor shortage.
That’s not the case in Seaside Heights, where Mayor Anthony Vaz says the borough is doing fine, thanks to a boost in pay and an optimistic outlook for the summer. “In my opinion, we are back to normal,” said Vaz. “We saw the influx of people in the last year, and we’re seeing it early on when it was nice weather for the Easter holiday.”
Not every municipality can afford to go over minimum wage like Seaside Heights. Michael Busler, professor of finance at Stockton University, says businesses that pay a premium for employees have to make up the difference somewhere. “As your labor costs go up, all of your costs go up. You have to maintain profitability. Jersey Shore products are typically a little higher-priced because they have to make a year’s worth of profit five or six months,” Busler said.
According to the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, more than 114 million people visited the state last year, an increase of 18 million over 2021.
