We canât find people anywhere: Washington restaurant owners face staffing shortage
Restaurant owners face staffing shortage
The next time youâre walking around the neighborhood take a look around at the storefronts of businesses, chances are youâll see some Help Wanted signs.
WEST SEATTLE, Wash. - The next time you’re walking around the neighborhood take a look around at the storefronts of businesses, chances are you’ll see some Help Wanted signs. Most restaurants I know are short on cooks and front-of-house staff and we can’t find people anywhere, said Dan Austin.
Austin is the owner of Peel & Press in West Seattle. The restaurant serves up stone-fired pizza and, before COVID-19, fresh-pressed cocktails.
May 14 After three counties were bounced back to Phase 2, and then the whole state was paused from moving up or down last month, starting Tuesday, May 18, all of Washington will return to Phase 3. The state will officially reopen to full capacity for all activities June 30, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday. It could happen sooner, he said, if at least 70 percent of the state's population is .
Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business, offered the following statement:
This is good news for Washington employers after a year of challenges and setbacks. We hope this truly marks the beginning of the end of the pandemic and that we can begin the hard work of rebuilding Washington’s economy.
Vaccines have played a critical role in getting us to this point, and we know that continued vaccination is key to bringing the virus under control, getting people back to work and returning our daily lives to something resembling normal.
Gov. Inslee highlighted the important function chambers of commerce can play in this effort, and AWB is committed to working with local chambers to help vaccinate as many people as possible. Chambers of commerce are integral institutions in many communities, connecting small businesses with each other and with their neighbors. They are ideal partners in the effort to expand access and awareness to vaccines.
Pandemic labor shortage hits Clark County hospitality industry hard By Will Campbell, Columbian Assistant Metro Editor
Published: May 13, 2021, 6:00am
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4 Photos Mackenzie Samuelson, from left, of Beaches restaurant chats with customers Andrea Pelton and Maegan Davies while stopping by their table on Thursday morning, May 6, 2021. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian) Photo Gallery
Brian Rummer, co-owner of Barlow’s Public House on the Vancouver waterfront, can’t seem to find enough workers to fill open positions at his restaurant. Often when he gets responses and sets up interviews, the applicants stand him up.
“I get the feeling they’re not looking for work,” he said.