RAPID CITY, S.D. – According to the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, there are thousands of jobs open across the state.
In Rapid City, Christina Vissia, HR recruiter for The Rapid City Area School District, says they have close to 80 open positions.
She says staffing shortages are primarily in the areas of custodial staff, bus drivers and bus aides, and paraprofessionals.
The pandemic has made the hiring process even more challenging, according to district officials. Superintendent Dr. Lori Simons says that a shortage of substitute teachers is at about 30 percent. She said they are already experiencing difficult staffing situations due to staff absences from COVID-19.
According to Vissia, the substitute pool is primarily made up of people who are more susceptible to COVID-19, creating more of a challenge to fill substitute needs.
For those interested in substitute teaching, the minimum requirement is a high school diploma or a GED.
