From locally owned Mom and Pop cafes with small “Help Wanted” signs in their front windows, to national chains with a big “NOW HIRING” banner draped across the front of the building, it seems there is service industry labor shortage. But is this true and if so, what is the cause?
By all reports there is definitely a scarcity of workers for all restaurant positions due in part to the rapid rise of new restaurants opening across the nation. For 2017 the Bureau of Labor Statistics determined there were more than 620,000 eating and drinking businesses throughout the United States and that number continues to increase at about double the rate of the population. And while statistics compiled by the National Restaurant Association have determined one out of every ten American workers currently work in the restaurant business, the rapid growth of new establishments has caused a nationwide restaurant labor shortage.
Another problem is the recent immigration raids on undocumented workers who for years have been the backbone of the restaurant business. Shannon Meade, Director of Labor and Work Force Policy for the National Restaurant Association has gone on record stating, “Our industry is very much in need of a temporary visa for the low-skilled, essential workers. While visas are available for seasonal work, a year-round visa program would go a long way to addressing hiring and retention issues.”
Adding more fuel to the fire is the lack of teenagers willing to work for low wages in an industry which has always relied on cheap labor in order to survive. Keith Miller, owner of three Northern California Subway franchises said, “We used to get overwhelmed with the number of people wanting summer jobs. Now I get maybe a handful of such applications. I don’t know what teenagers do all summer.”
Whether you are a restaurant owner searching for dependable employees, or a hostess, waitperson, chef, line cook or dishwasher looking for a new job, Staffing One Services can help. Please connect with one of our experienced employment counselors today for more information.