Stranded assets

The coronavirus pandemic has bludgeoned businesses in the Adirondacks and across the globe, and one of the latest worries for them is having enough people to work as the economy reopens.

Rural retreats such as the Adirondacks often rely on international workers to fill a seasonal gap in staffing. So far, their presence in the usual numbers this summer is in doubt.

While the unemployment rate climbs in New York, many of the wages for positions needed at hotels and restaurants can’t compete with the $600 per week of unemployment benefits the federal government provides, at least through July 31. Certain jobs could also carry greater risk of catching COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Those factors could make hiring locals a challenge, too.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is predicting a 40% drop in Adirondack visitors this July and August, compared to a normal summer. It’s not good news for business income, but it could help ease the staffing worries.

“It’s a lot of unknowns this year,” said Gary