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UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR SELECT SKI STATES

2.6%
2.8% Ski Areas
28
26
3.8% 2.6% Ski Areas 2.9%
3
14 Ski Areas 3.2% 20
4.1% Ski10 Areas 20 Ski Areas
13 3.0% 3.4% Ski Areas 2.9%
Ski Areas 4 30
17 4.0% Ski Areas Ski Areas 3.5%
Ski Areas 10
14
Ski Areas Ski Areas
3.1% 3.0% 3.5%
14 5
Ski Areas 31
Ski Areas Ski Areas
Sierras
3.6%
17
Ski Areas
This map represents
three quarters of all
ski areas in U.S., and
account for more than
70% of all skier visits.
(Economists consider Source: Bureau of
4.0% unemployment Labor Statistics
as effectively “full Feb. 2018
employment”) Unemployment Rates

PREVAILING WAGES use an independent wage survey to ask the agency to approve
Under onerous changes imposed in 2015 by the Obama prevailing wage rates that are based on independent survey
administration, H-2B visa regulations require that data. This approach can significantly reduce the minimum
employers pay a threshold “prevailing wage” rate (sim- H-2B visa wage, saving the mountain labor costs and mak-
ilarly used in some union jobs)—not only to the H-2B ing H-2B visa petitions much more feasible.
visa worker but also to the American workers preform- The NSAA Annual Wage & Salary Survey provides a
ing the same job. Determined and set by the Department great first step toward shaping an H-2B independent wage
of Labor, the prevailing wage is based on the localized survey. While the H-2B wage survey needs to be custom-
metropolitan area where the work is performed and job ized to each particular resort and local metropolitan region,
duties. Most ski areas are already paying wages at—or the NSAA’s efforts in creating its industry Wage & Salary The future is now
well above—the prevailing wages set by the DOL for food Survey means that your resort does not need to provide any
and beverage positions. The challenge on prevailing wages data for purposes of creating the survey, saving a substan-
arises as they relate to on-mountain operations positions, tial amount of time in the process. Still, using an indepen- The new PistenBully 600 Product highlights in its class:
such as lift operators and snowmakers, which tend to have dent wage survey is challenging, as the survey needs to meet
somewhat higher prevailing wage rates set by the DOL specific regulatory criteria, and needs to be customized to
above what ski areas generally pay for these positions your resort. Developed in close collaboration with you, our customer. Lightest machine for
(DOL aligns these wage rates closer to rates for heavy In addition, some ski resorts have enjoyed success in Built by us, to set standards in every discipline. Trimmed for superior climbability
construction machinery). “tiering” their positions. For example, if the DOL’s prevail- maximum effi ciency and optimum slope quality. Equipped
There are a few strategies to ease the strain of these spe- ing wage for a cook is $12 an hour, and a ski area pays its with intelligent assist systems for excellent tilling results. Cleanest and most
cific prevailing wages. First, for mountain operations posi- cooks $10 to $15 per hour, the ski area can create levels or quiet engine (EU stage V)
tions, we have found success using an independent wage tiers for its cooking positions—as in Cook Level 1, Cook
survey to bring the prevailing wage rate closer to what your Level 2, and Cook Level 3, based on experience or other fac- Bring your slope management to the next level: LEVEL RED. Best power-to-weight ratio
local ski areas are already paying (which is far above the fed- tors—and bring all of the H-2B workers in as Cook 2-level
eral minimum wage already). Most employers utilizing H-2B positions. As a result, the ski area would only be obligated www.level-red.com Greatest payload
visas must use a minimum wage rate set by the DOL based to meet the prevailing wage only for its Level-2 Cook posi- Most intuitive and
on the position and the location of the worksite; however, in tions. (Bear in mind, though, that under H-2B regulations,
limited situations, organizations can apply to the DOL to Americans who are hired at the Level-2 Cook position would comfortable control
Most reliable winch
22 | NSAA JOURNAL | CONVENTION 2018