The $300 million Rivers Casino Portsmouth gaming and entertainment complex is scheduled to open next year, but officials are struggling to fill hundreds of job openings.
However, Human Resources Vice President Johnee Ingram said she’s not overly concerned, noting the turnout at recent job fairs. “We have 1,300 jobs that we have to fill by the end of this year before opening. Every industry is being affected by this workforce shortage post-Covid. We’re all affected by it, but I don’t see it as a big issue.”
Hospitality Vice President Karl Waitner said his team is seeking management and leadership positions. “To be honest with you, I think some departments will fare better than others in regard to finding enough staff. That might be a challenge at first, but as we start moving on, I think that we’re going to get enough excitement in the area, and I think we’re going to do just fine,” he said.
Waitner and Ingram noted positions are available in marketing, human resources, IT, facilities, front-of-house and back-of-house food and beverage leadership and engineering.
Waitner said, “If anybody is even remotely interested, even if they don’t think their current career path translates into the gaming industry, they should come have a conversation with us. Because they’d be surprised with some of the things that can translate well into our business.”
Rivers Casino job fairs are scheduled for Saturday, August 20 at the Portsmouth Sportsplex and Wednesday, September 28 at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach.
