Episode Details

America’s pools are open—but the lifeguard chairs are empty. In this episode, we dive into the nationwide lifeguard shortage that’s forcing cities to cut hours, cancel swim lessons, and even close entire facilities. Becoming a guard has always required real skill—from grueling swim tests to intensive certification courses—but the pandemic shattered the training pipeline and drained the workforce. Now, with only a fraction of parks fully staffed, communities are scrambling: recruiting on TikTok, offering signing bonuses, even hiring seniors to keep people safe in the water. We explore why lifeguards are so hard to find, what’s at stake when supervision disappears, and whether the industry can recover before another summer arrives.

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/30/where-have-all-the-lifeguards-gone