Government shutdown causes workforce shortages in Edmonson County

BROWNSVILLE, Ky.-The government shutdown has ended, but it’s still having an adverse effect on the tourism business in Edmonson County.

Hotels, restaurants and even Mammoth Cave are behind on their staffing goals for the upcoming tourism season.

The Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Commission estimates that more than 600 jobs need to be filled by spring.

“We did hear from Mammoth Cave National Park that because they were down those days due to the closer that was when their hiring process would have already begun. So, it put them behind about 30 days,” said Rhonda Clemmons, Executive Director at Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Commission.

To help fill the shortages, Edmonson County will hold a tourism industry job fair at the Cave City Convention Center on March 6.