LAKE PLACID — The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism has released findings from its 2026 regional workforce survey.
The survey gathered input from 100 regional businesses in April 2026, and the findings will guide ROOST’s housing “Live Here” and seasonal workforce support efforts.
The survey was designed to better understand local workforce conditions, including labor availability, housing-related barriers and seasonal staffing needs.
SURVEY FINDINGS
Many findings reinforce the expected results, highlighting challenges already familiar to local employers, according to a ROOST press release.
Survey respondents identified housing availability and cost, general worker shortages, wage competition and seasonal labor supply as key pressures affecting their ability to staff their businesses.
The findings also showed that work-authorized, non-U.S. born employees are especially important to a subset of businesses, particularly in the hospitality and seasonal sectors.
According to ROOST CEO Dan Kelleher, the results provide insight that can be used to connect several workforce-related efforts already underway.
“This survey confirms what we’ve been hearing from businesses and communities across the region: workforce challenges are interconnected,” he said in a statement.
“Housing, year-round workforce retention, seasonal staffing and support for seasonal, work-authorized international workers, particularly J1 exchange students, are not separate issues. They all affect whether businesses can operate, whether workers can live here and whether communities remain sustainable.
“The survey gives us a local benchmark, but the real value is in using that information to guide both current and future action.”
HOUSING
The survey reinforced that a major area of concern continues to be housing.
ROOST recently commissioned a regional housing study with Zimmerman Volk Associates to better understand housing needs, barriers and opportunities across area communities.
According to Adam DeSantis, director of economic development at ROOST, that study continues to inform conversations with municipalities, employers, developers and community partners about how housing availability affects workforce stability and long-term community vitality.
“Housing is central to the workforce conversation,” DeSantis said. “If people cannot find a place to live, they cannot take a job, build a career or become part of the community.
“The housing study gives us a stronger foundation for working with partners on practical, locally informed solutions.”
ROOST’s ongoing “Live Here” initiative complements this work by focusing on attraction and retention of year-round residents.
The initiative helps people better understand what it means to live, work and build a life in the Adirondacks, connecting workforce attraction with quality of life, housing, community connection and long-term opportunity.
SEASONAL WORKFORCE NEEDS
ROOST is also supporting short-term seasonal workforce needs.
Many exchange visitor students, through the J1 visa program, arrive in local communities for the summer season. These students play an important role in supporting the tourism economy during peak demand periods.
ROOST hosted an orientation for these students June 12 to help them feel welcome, ensure they understand the region, connect them with local resources and provide information about transportation, safety, recreation, community expectations and available services.
“J1 students are valuable members of the seasonal workforce and, for many businesses, they help make the summer season possible,” DeSantis said.
“The orientation is about making sure that when students arrive, they are welcomed, informed and connected to the community.”
The regional workforce survey also indicated that some businesses may be interested in the J1 visa program but are unfamiliar with how the program works.
In response, ROOST is planning an informational session for business owners who want to better understand the program, its requirements and learn if it could align with their seasonal staffing needs.
“A significant part of ROOST’s work is focused on helping to build a stronger workforce system over time,” Kelleher said.
“That means supporting local workers, attracting new year-round residents, addressing housing barriers, welcoming seasonal workers and helping employers understand the tools available to them.”