A local business owner was surprised when some recent job postings went unanswered.

Chris Crosbie is the founder and Chief Operating Officer of Atlantic Cultivation, a cannabis growing operation.

He says he was taken aback when six employment postings for a coming SpiritLeaf retail location, went largely unanswered.

Crosbie says he expected interest in the positions given the number of layoffs created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He re-posted the staff recruitment listings a second time, and the uptake was better.

Crosbie believes fear of the virus may have kept potential employees from applying. He also acknowledges the emergency relief fund as a contributing factor.