State lifeguards are getting a pay bump as a part of a recruitment effort to deal with a lifeguard scarcity, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced in the present day.
State lifeguards at downstate swimming services like Riverbank State Park in Manhattan and Roberto Clemente State Park within the Bronx will now be making $22 an hour, up from $18.15. Lifeguards upstate will now make $20 an hour, up from $14.95. Lifeguards at CUNY and SUNY services can even be included.
The brand new pay charges will go into impact instantly for lifeguards at state-operated swimming services operated, the governor stated. Lifeguards with greater than two seasons of expertise can even obtain raises starting from 5% to 30%, relying on location and expertise.
The pay will increase are a part of a better push to encourage extra candidates. The state parks division can be providing “on-demand” lifeguard certification programs and launched a digital recruitment campaign to promote the roles, the governor stated.
“All New Yorkers deserve the opportunity to safely enjoy our public beaches and pools this summer,” Hochul stated in an announcement. “With a lifeguard shortage threatening access to swimming facilities, we are aggressively recruiting more lifeguards to ensure safe access to outdoor recreation during the summer months.”
The state’s new charges don’t apply to the lifeguards at any of the New York Metropolis run seashores or swimming pools. Hochul’s announcement comes per week after the town blamed lifeguard shortages for the cancellation of swim applications at metropolis swimming pools. Metropolis lifeguard pay at present begins at $16 an hour, that’s now $6 {dollars} lower than their downstate lifeguards counterparts.
The town parks division didn’t have a remark. A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams didn’t instantly reply to a request looking for remark.
If the positions aren’t crammed, state swimming services will want to scale back hours or prohibit swimming sections, the state parks division instructed Gothamist in an electronic mail final week.
The state lowered the lifeguard age restriction to 15 throughout most of New York final 12 months. Hochul stated the state was attempting to deal with shortages by “proactively adjusting lifeguards from park to park.”
The announcement additionally comes days after two younger individuals drowned at Rockaway Seashore in Queens, in an space of the seashore that’s at present unguarded, inflicting public outcry.
The scarcity of lifeguards has develop into a nationwide drawback as numerous components, together with the receding COVID-19 pandemic and low unemployment numbers, have impacted the variety of individuals signing up for the job.