The Syracuse City School District is among those feeling the seismic shift in the workforce as people leave their jobs in search of other opportunities. The district is holding a job fairThursday in hopes of filling a wide variety of open positions.
Director of Recruitment and Selection Scott Persampieri says they have more than 150 vacancies.
"...teaching positions, substitute teaching positions, food service positions, bus attendant positions, school nurse positions, school sentry positions, clerical positions..."
He says there’s always some churn in the district’s workforce, but it usually doesn’t last this long.
"We will have some turnover the first couple months of the school year. However, as we stretch into December, we're continuing to see resignations happen daily, with no sign of abating anytime soon."
Persampieri says they’re clearly not immune to the larger changes being felt across all industries. He knows some might choose to leave for reasons that are unique to a school district, including increased expectations and concerns about working in a school setting due to COVID.
"These are challenging times in every profession. In education, just like in health care, we are in some ways seeing the brunt of some of these challenges just because of the nature of the work that we do."
Persampieri says despite the vacancies, the district is still meeting the needs of students and families using flexible work schedules. When it comes to hiring, he says prospective employees might be attracted to a generous benefits package.
"Most of the folks that work in the district will be able to join the New York State retirement system, and will someday have a defined benefit pension, which very few other industries can claim."
Organizations like Jubilee Homes, Jobs Plus, CNY Works, and others will also be on hand at the job fair to discuss additional employment opportunities.
Thejob fair will be held Thursday from 4 to 6 pm in the Fowler High School Cafeteria at 227 Magnolia Street in Syracuse.
