Skilled work force target for training classes

Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997 | 10:29 a.m.

"We spent an enormous amount of time trying to find people to do the basic of technical jobs," said Wilson Carroll, vice president of Lady Luck Gaming Corp.

With nearly 6,000 new casino jobs opening up over the next two years, finding trained personnel will be more difficult.

Many of the new jobs are middle management or technical skills requiring some schooling or lots of experience.

Carroll said the casino industry has always supported training programs in Mississippi junior colleges and universities.

"The fact is there are still not enough skilled Mississippians capable of stepping into the upper echelons of casino management. The only way to address that is to train people through the community colleges and universities," he said.

None of Mississippi's 15 community colleges or eight universities have gaming courses, although such classes are not forbidden. The schools have been sensitive about the isssue and have wanted direction from lawmakers.

It has not been forthcoming. Bills that would permit courses such as casino management, auditing and security have ended up in the Senate graveyard several years running.

The debate degenerates into fears that people will be taught how to play craps or roulette or how to deal blackjack.

The Gaming Commission has supported the idea.

"Right now there is no real opportunity for Mississippians to be educated in the casino management skills. They have to go to Nevada or New Jersey where they are teaching these courses in higher education institutions," said commission spokesman Warren Strain.

Clyde Muse, president of Hinds Community College and chairman of the junior colleges' legislative committee, said the casinos have developed into an "amazing" industry in Mississippi and the state has not been able to address some of its work force needs.

"Things such as electronics, computers, hotel management, tourism, the culinary arts and security ... a tremendous number of jobs for which no special training is being provided to Mississippians to qualify for those jobs," Muse said.

Muse said the junior colleges, with campuses across the state, should be allowed to train people for those jobs.

"We are not interested in teaching people how to be black jack dealers or the elements of gambling themselves. We are looking at a need in an industry that is a legal institution, a major taxpayer in our state, that has to be licensed and we ought to be able to assist them with their work force needs," he said.

Sen. Hillman Frazier, D-Jackson, said he would expect lawmakers to again approach the issue with prudence.

"I don't know how it is going to look this year," said Frazier, chairman of the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee. "I understand they are going to approach it from an emphasis on hotel management. It is going to be a wait-and-see thing."

Frazier said a key factor is whether there is a need for the programs. He said the Legislature has approached the issue with a lot of thought.

"If the public colleges don't fill that need, it may be that the private ones could. But I don't want to arbitrarily endorse or reject it," Frazier said.

He said lawmakers usually listen closely when educational institutions come up with ideas "affecting jobs and economic activity."

Muse acknowledges that debate in the Legislature is emotional.

"A lot of people out there have some real strong feelings about this. Whether or not the support will be sufficient to pass it, I don't know," Muse said.

However, the competition for skilled workers and the availability of training being provided in Memphis, Tenn., by the University of Nevada are issues the Legislature will likely consider. Louisiana State University is reportedly considering offering classes in Baton Rouge, La.

"The casinos have got to get people with this training," Muse said. "I would rather this training be for Mississippians, taught and regulated through Mississippi colleges and junior colleges so that our Mississippians can get the jobs rather than bringing in people from outside the state."

Carroll said casinos deal with the shortage by bringing in management people.

"To me the important issue is whether Mississippians are going to be able to capitalize and benefit from the best jobs offered by the casinos.

"The casinos, by and large, train their own dealers, but the low-level middle management people jobs are disproportionately held by non-Mississippians," he said, "and I think the industry wants to change that."

Carroll said the casinos are looking for training in accounting, electronics, hotel and restaurant management, public relations and other management vocations.