Key. Finding places to improve benefits can help ease the shortage
The no-shows are just one symptom of a broader crisis in the restaurant industry: an acute shortage of employees. It’s currently ripping through every parcel of the sector, from quick-service chains to high-end establishments. One big piece of proof: There were 12.5 million total restaurant workers nationwide at the end of 2020, down at least -16.6% from the normal 15 million, according to The National Restaurant Association.
While many other industries also struggle to fill staffing gaps, the shortage is notable in restaurants. For one, unlike, say groceries or some big-box retailers, the pandemic crushed the industry, particularly in tourism-dependent spots like Florida. Also, outside a core group of restaurant lifers — people like Castellani — finding and keeping good people in the business has always been a challenge. The unsurprising result? Customers are waiting longer to get a table or be served food, places are cutting back hours, or in some cases closing for a day or two and menus are shrinking.