Jul. 12—Tony Kischner has been involved in the restaurant industry for over 50 years. But the conundrum he and his wife, Ann, are facing at Bridgewater Bistro is something they haven't encountered.
With coroanvirus restrictions lifted and the bustle of summer tourism in Astoria, it may seem like restaurants have finally put the struggle of the pandemic behind them. Yet for many, a labor shortage and other lingering challenges have prevented a return to normalcy.
"I've never seen anything like this," Tony Kischner said.
After Bridgewater lost staff in late spring for various reasons, the Kischners sought to replace them. They were surprised to come up empty. Not only were they unable to find experienced line cooks and servers, there was even a lack of applications from high school students interested in bussing and dishwasher jobs.
The interest they received for jobs that typically require experience came from people who had never worked in restaurants.
"It's a hard enough business already dealing with the summer pressure," Ann Kischner said.
Several restaurants on the North Coast are facing similar obstacles. Some have temporarily closed or reduced hours at a time when business could be booming. A few have taken to social media to vent with anecdotes about people who apply for jobs but do not show up for interviews or who accept jobs but fail to appear for shifts.
The Oregon Employment Department, in a special research report released last week, said the state lost 286,000 jobs and unemployment hit an all-time high of 13.2% within the first two months of the pandemic.
The state found that 48% of those initial job losses were in the leisure and hospitality sector, such as hotels, restaurants and bars, along with other services like barber shops and hair salons and private education.
'It just wasn't healthy for them'
Despite the economic blow of the pandemic, many people have not immediately returned to the workforce as jobs become available. While extended unemployment insurance has provided some cushion, workers have cited difficulties with child care, housing and family obligations. Some also used the time off to reevaluate whether they want to go back to the same type of work, especially lower-wage jobs.
In July, the minimum wage in Clatsop County increased to $12.75 an hour — up from $12. Many restaurants have raised hourly pay and provided other incentives to help fill jobs but are still having trouble finding staff.
At Bridgewater Bistro, June was the busiest month since the restaurant opened in Uniontown in 2007, Ann Kischner said. "It's busy all day and every day," she said.