Why 'Now Hiring' Signs Aren't The Best Way To Attract Restaurant Employees

Even before you are greeted by an employee at most businesses, you first see a "help wanted" sign. With signs posted all over every city and town looking for workers, are they an effective way to find an employee?

A National Restaurant Association survey asked restaurant owners about the challenges they face; 50% of respondents said recruiting and retaining employees will be their number one challenge in 2022. The industry is also known for its high turnover rate. According to notch, the restaurant industry experiences an approximate 73% worker turnover, which is about 1.5 times more than all private-sector workers, with a turnover rate of about 46%.

While restaurant owners are saying they are struggling to fill positions and keep employees, the number of employees needed to fill positions is expected to increase by 200,000 each year between 2023 and 2030, according to the National Restaurant Association survey. In 2021, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics said more than 9.4 million people were employed by restaurants and other food establishments. With an ongoing need to fill open positions, what is an employer to do?

While "help wanted" signs may have been the go-to way to advertise open positions for decades, they are not as effective as they once were, reports QSR Magazine. The article says employers should consider online job boards and social media to find young workers. Social media allows employers to compose ads that can strike different tones and even include video (via QSR Magazine).

In addition, QSR recommends offering referral bonuses which turns current employees into job recruiters who will locate other people with similar skills and mindsets. Creating accurate job descriptions that are placed on a variety of platforms is important (via Glassdoor). What businesses project to the outside world is also important, according to Glassdoor, which says job seekers will judge a company's online presence when considering whether to apply. The website advises that potential employees will review the company's website, social media accounts, and reviews from current and former employees, as well as other information, to evaluate an employer. Harver suggests employers get creative and provided the examples of Denny's taking a 53-foot kitchen truck on a national hiring mission, as well as Chipotle Mexican Grill's virtual career fair on the social platform Discord. The bottom line is employers need to get focused and creative to hire the best candidates who will want to be long-term employees.