Labour is challenging restaurant growth.We all know it. But what can we do about it?

We’ve been talking to our members and there’s one thing on your minds, everywhere we go: a shortage of quality labour. From Victoria to Vancouver, to Kelowna and Prince George, restaurants are changing their schedules, closing down on certain days, or cutting back on external programs and events, all because they just can’t keep, or even find, reliable staff. And with the summer months quickly approaching, our members are worried.

Recent statistics paint a bleak picture and support what we hear: Restaurants Canada calculates that in the third quarter of 2019, there was a record of almost 64,000 job vacancies in Canada’s foodservice industry. It only echoes what we already know from you: labour impacts your ability to operate, period. Lacking the necessary staff means that you just can’t operate.

Kitchens are lacking skilled chefs and supporting line staff resulting in reduced consistency on the menu – both how it looks and how it tastes. Some chefs are making tough decisions if some items are available at all.

The lack of reliable front of the house has restaurants scrambling to offer the experience necessary to handle high volume or fine-dining levels of service, costing them sales and return visits.

Bottom lines are being negatively impacted – not just through lost return business – but through increased operating costs from high-turnover and training. Real operators are facing seemingly insurmountable labour challenges. The BCRFA has been doing in-depth research on labour shortage and our labour shortage solutions handbook is a great tool for operators. Our partnership with Have Café in Vancouver’s downtown is dedicated to connecting at-risk individuals with new starts in foodservice. In addition, there are a number of local industry leaders that are engaging with the labour shortage problem by creating their own solutions. Some of our members are spearheading innovative programs that find, and train, staff that would otherwise be unable to find the training and experience necessary to succeed and prepare them for long careers in the food services industry. Still, when local initiatives are not enough, or you need help NOW, your BCRFA has partnered to offer an industry-leading foreign worker program.

The Express Entry Dual Intent program brings you skilled, highly-trained individuals who are ready to work and are looking to start a new life here in Canada. In as little as four months (right in time for peak season in many areas of the province), our team fills in the necessary applications, vets and secures a quality employee, with a two-year work permit and the intent to apply for permanent residency status in Canada. These are people that have the knowledge and background, and that want to be here, working for you. These are long-term employees, ready and willing to work. You tell us who and what you need, and we do all the hard stuff – we work with the government to ensure that this program is quick, efficient, and reliable. We’re happy to speak to you about your unique problem so we can offer specific advice.

See how our labour shortage report or our Express Entry Skilled Foreign worker program can help you, today. Visit www.bcrfa.com for more information.