Revel’s job numbers / Economic reality – pressofAtlanticCity.com: Editorials

So … the Revel casino hotel will apparently open with about 4,758 employees, 38 percent of whom – or about 1,785 – will be part-timers.

This, despite initial statements that the resort would create 5,500 full-time jobs.

An outrage? A scandal? Hardly. It’s a reflection of the economic realities of the time.

Yes, it’s a disappointment. Industrywide, only approximately 12 percent of Atlantic City casino workers are part-timers, up from an average of 8 percent 10 years ago. And the promise of 5,500 full-time jobs was, of course, included in Revel’s successful application for a $261.4 million, 20-year graduated tax rebate through the state Economic Development Authority.

We get that. But state officials say the tax rebate did not hinge on the number of jobs. And ask yourself: Aren’t the roughly 3,000 full-time jobs that Revel will provide at its April 2 opening better than zero jobs – which would have been the case if Revel had not received the tax rebate? Isn’t having this new $2.4 billion resort open better than not having it open?

via Revel’s job numbers / Economic reality – pressofAtlanticCity.com: Editorials.