The nationwide lifeguard shortage is leading to lots of job opportunities across metro Atlanta. Counties including Cobb, Clayton and Gwinnett are searching for more staff at their swimming facilities.

As example, as part of lifeguard recruiting efforts in Clayton County, officials there are waving the certification fee and offering salaries starting at $14.39 an hour. In Gwinnett County, parks and recreation director Chris Minor tells WSB Radio they also have positions open at their county facilities and they’ll train folks who are interested.

“We are very good at training lifeguards and we have some of the best-trained lifeguards in the state,” says Minor. “We train all of our lifeguards in-house. We use American Red Cross training materials, and we also train all of our water safety instructors – the people who teach swim lessons. And we train those trainers.”

Gwinnett offers $16.50 per hour for its county pool lifeguard positions this summer.

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