The service industry is experiencing a labor shortage, and Chattanooga hasn’t remained untouched.

Some industry locals said it’s all people are talking about + it’s an emergency situation.

Now that outdoor dining season is here, vaccination rates are increasing, and more people feel safe re-entering the public sphere, restaurants are in desperate need of employees, but very few are stepping up to the plate. (Pun not intended. 😅)

On top of that, there is also a food shortage because manufacturers are also short-staffed and cannot keep up with the demand that comes with states quickly reopening. One recent example is ketchup.

Local insight

Lupi’s Pizza Owner Dorris Shober + Main Street Meats and Easy Bistro Owner Erik Niel both called the shortage a “crisis.” Some restaurants can’t open or are cutting hours because they don’t have the staff.

Both businesses have been hiring for months at all locations but getting almost no response.
Potential reasons for the shortage include:
- Some service workers got out of the industry + moved on to other jobs.
- Some may be wary of working in a job that encounters so many people.
- Last but not least, wages.
Some people may be making as much through current unemployment benefits as they would at a restaurant job, so there’s a disincentive to come back, Niel said, although he expects that to ease in a few months.
Niel said he expects continued pressure on wages. He starts people at $12.50 now, and he thinks that will eventually increase. Shober also said her wages are competitive for the industry.
The shortage may also affect customer experiences, which restaurant owners are working to overcome, but they are experiencing a new influx of customers + taking care of them with fewer employees.
But Niel also said there’s never been a better time to get into a service or skilled trade job because “opportunity abounds.” Managers are eager to train anyone with the willingness + aptitude, he said.
You can find more info about jobs at Lupi’s online, and anyone interested in working at Main Street Meats or Easy Bistro can call the respective restaurants and talk to a manager.

State insight

About 7,600 new unemployment claims were filed in Tennessee last week.
The state unemployment rate is 5.1 percent.
There are more than 230,000 open jobs on jobs4tn.gov.

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