Fearing the Gen Z ‘Labor Crisis?’ Highlight the Human Element

3 Min Read By Bruce Tulgan

According to a study conducted by NRAEF, the restaurant industry is facing an imminent Gen Z ‘labor crisis’: 

“In the next 10 years, we’re going to create 1.6 million additional restaurant jobs in this industry,” Executive Vice President for NRAEF, Rob Gifford said. “And yet, the population we are dependent upon to fill those jobs historically will decline by 1.3 million. So, if you think it’s bad now – if you think the fight [for] talent is difficult now – it is going to get even a lot worse.”

Attraction and retention are issues currently facing employers in every industry, but the transient nature of the food service workforce further exacerbates these issues. The reality is that the majority of those working as waitstaff, hosts, or cashiers do not intend to stay in the industry for the remainder of their careers: restaurant work is a good first job, but not a forever job.So, when faced with these challenges, how are restaurant employers expected to compete in…