Berry restaurateurs are short of arms. While they are building their teams for the summer season, they are facing recruitment difficulties more than ever. It’s not a new problem. “These are recurring difficulties that have existed since 2018 and have developed after the health crisis“, says Sabine Ferrand, the president of Umih (Union of hotel trades) in Center-Val-de-Loire.
In the Centre-Val-de-Loire region, there are approximately 7,000 to 8,000 vacancies. Because many restaurant workers have chosen to stop working in this sector after the Covid crisis. “One of the things that has changed is that they position themselves differently on their professional lifeexplains Sabine Ferrand. When you are used to working every day on evening services, and you find yourself at home for several months, there are reflections that are made”.
“But hey, if cafes, hotels and restaurants are no longer open in the evening or on weekends, the population will not be satisfied either.she continues. We have to work to change the image of the profession, the attractiveness of the professions, to highlight the advantages”.
These recruitment difficulties worry Berry restaurateurs for the next few months. “It puts the season in danger, but above all it puts companies in difficulty over the longer term.she explains. Because if you have to close one more day or close in the evening because you can’t find anyone to work in the evening, your economic model is no longer valid”.