With Jefferson County returning to a Level Orange on the county Covid risk dial, businesses have been opening back up with ensured safety precautions and job opportunities. The demand for these jobs remains high though, leaving applicants with the need to act quickly. 

As Covid levels in the community have receded, businesses can increase capacity levels inside their buildings. 

At the current Level Orange regulations, restaurants can accept 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer (not including staff). Party sizes must consist of ten people at the most, and reservations are encouraged. 

Restaurants now open for dine-in include the ViewHouse Littleton, Waffle House, Platte River Bar and Grill, and more.

Theaters are now accepting audiences and are taking great strides to enforce social distancing and safety. AMC Theaters allows 40% capacity in auditoriums, seating is reserved and dispersed, and to the liking of the public, movie tickets are being promoted with up to 30% off coupons. 

Small businesses are again offering in-person services with entrance to shops, with their own regulations to maintain a successful environment.

The Hudson Gardens walkways remain open to the public, Tease Hair Salon continues to accept appointments, Taspen’s Organics in Aspen Grove is back open, and the Mystic Escape Room is offering slots for inquiring parties. These and even more businesses are opening their doors to the awaiting consumers. 

As these businesses begin reopening, job opportunities will increase alongside them. 

With students beginning to look towards the summer as a time for work, age requirements and open businesses must be taken into consideration. 

Companies that offer work to ages 15 and older include Chick-Fil-A and Safeway, with many more opportunities to students 16 and older, including the currently hiring restaurant Smash Burger. 

With the popular need for jobs, however, they seem to be difficult to swipe.

Dakota sophomore Tess Brody has experienced the pandemic without her previous job, looking forward to the future where she will begin working again. 

“We grew up in a capitalist society, which, work is an immediate reward, and so, I kinda feel like, lazier, now that I don’t have to get up to go to work,” Brody said.

Work is a source of opportunity and growth for some students, and many people seek the security that it offers.

“It keeps my mind busy, you know, off of what’s going on in the world,” Dakota senior Alex Richardson said.

But unfortunately, work is in such high demand.

“It’s kind of past hiring season, so it’s really hard to get a job right now,” Richardson said. “Everyone just got hired for Christmas, and now they’re overstaffed.”

Richardson currently works as a Walmart cashier, receiving the job after being let go from her previous work as a hostess. The Covid shutdowns forced the restaurant to lay off employees, increasing the demographic looking for work.

“It was kind of hard to hear when I got laid off from my last job, because I actually liked it a lot,” Richardson said. 

Risk and low availability for work compile and make a tricky process in finding a job, but with ample research and businesses reopening, it’s a definite possibility. 

“Fast food places and grocery stores are usually always hiring,” Richardson said. 

Enforced regulations and public action will aid in further opening the businesses in the community. They will also then help in increasing jobs and the return to normalcy.