I detest H1B's, but I think H2B's are a different animal.
To specifically answer your question, in seasonal resorts, there aren't enough local high school kids to fill all the jobs. They do fill some, but there just aren't enough local kids. That's here on Cape Cod, where the population tends to be older, the local kids somewhat fewer. Moreover, the seasonal tourist population is several times the local population between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Now, an interesting question might be, "why isn't there an organized program to make it easier for American kids to apply and travel to where the summer jobs are?" But, there isn't.
” in seasonal resorts, there aren’t enough local high school kids to fill all the jobs “
What in god’s name are you talking about?
In my kid’s high school most of the kids have to get volunteer summer jobs (pool guards for example) because the paid jobs are occupied by illegals for the most part.
H2-B’s work in National Parks like Yellowstone that older teens would love to work in: the cashiers at the Old Faithful Lodge are all Chinese. My father worked there in 1946 as a “savage” (he was from Montana, not Shanghai) when he was 16. Not a single foreigner in sight back then.
We don’t need any “foreign workers”. If they can’t get people then the pay goes up until they attract some: no more excuses for welfare and “homelessness”.
If they can import foreigners, they can surely import students!!! Bet a lot of high school and college kids would love a summer on the cape.
Mine and their friends worked seasonal jobs at the state park.
When we vacationed last few years in Maine and Outer Banks when we went to restaurants, servers told us they have to bring people from Europe as american kids don’t want to work. Several new hotels and restaurants couldn’t open do to shortage.
Also, know many friends coworkers who don’t want their kids working at 16 and older. They want them to not be stressed and just do sports, music and have fun.
It is rare to see teenagers working anymore. I blame the parents of today who pamper their kids.