Labour shortage in the catering industry continues

The study, entitled “Food & Beverage Industry Report 2024,” found not only that 82% of companies are currently hiring, but also that experienced cooks (30%) are in the highest demand, followed by dishwashers (12%) and cashiers (7%).

More importantly, the data showed that The shortage of workers in the catering industry (23%) is one of the biggest challenges for companiesin second place after rising operating costs (27%).

There are many reasons why staff shortages are so common in restaurants. High turnover rates and seasonal fluctuations in demand obviously play a role, but this is nothing new in the food and beverage industry.

However, the current general labor shortage is making things worse for many food service businesses, says Expert Market. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced in June 2024 that 1.7 million American workers are “missing” from the economy – and with less strenuous jobs becoming available in droves, marketing to the food service industry has become even more difficult.

“The demanding work in the catering industry, coupled with factors such as long working hours, weekend shifts and comparatively low wages, make it difficult to attract and retain talent” – Expert Market

In addition, the report points out that the labour market landscape in general is changing due to demographic changes and changing employment dynamics. The food and beverage industry is the most affected by this change.