Chamber web site to begin listing job openings on the South Coast

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - As the work force is coming back from the COVID crisis, employees will find a new web page tab locally as a fast form of help.

The South Coast Chamber of Commerce is acting on a suggestion from business owners to open a new portal where the members can list job openings, all the specifics and get a direct dialog started with applicants.

Other options including Craig's List have worked in the past and are still a choice but they are often difficult to navigate. Employers and employees have said many of the jobs there can be stale and not removed when they are filled.

Since May 1, just in hospitality and restaurant industry in and around Santa Barbara, more than 120 listings are up.

Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Kristen Miller says the site will be launched next week.

Members from Goleta to Carpinteria will be able to get in, fill out a form and provide their listing.

In recent weeks NewsChannel 3 has been told by several employers the number of weekly applicants is down drastically from the pre-COVID days.

 moves back  in to high gear,  employers are looking for new ways to reach prospective employees when positions are open.
.        And  just about every where we looked in business districts,    you could find someone who is hiring,  especially in the food or hotel industry.
Kirsten MillerCEO and President of the  South Coast Chamber of Commerce Kristen Miller said this week, "the labor shortage is huge. "

An innovative response is underway in collaboration with the business community.
"We are looking hard at  how we can change this because our businesses  can not provide the level of service they want to without the right staff."

 The sluggish comeback of employees is in part due to the infusion of government unemployment and stimulus money,    home schooling issues,   COVID safety worries in the workplace and "a shifting landscape of workers because everything was upended for so long  people move careers,  people did move jobs or move away," said Miller.

Goleta City Councilmember James Kyriaco said, "our foundational business partners they have the will and the drive and the capacity to withstand and grow and come back and be better than ever."

It's unclear how fast the economy will ramp us, but travel and tourism in Southern California has already shown a spike in the last month.

"The employers are responding as best as they can  to give as much  information to get good employees to apply," said Miller about the process to use the new system next week.

The new portal is being tested in a small sector.

"Right now we are starting with hospitality jobs because they are the group that has asked us and they are ready to go. If it works I am happy to open it up to other industries"   

For more information go to the : South Coast Chamber of Commerce.