Hotels, Restaurants Still Short Of Staff

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restaurant-pizza-safe-15

Things are better than last year, but Michigan hotels and restaurants are still significantly short-staffed as we head into the summer tourist season. CEO Justin Winslow at the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association told Michigan News Network this week a new survey shows about 80% of establishments need workers.

“Most, nearly two thirds, are operating with fewer hours because of inadequate staffing, and that’s clearly a challenge,” Winslow said. “The positive spin if I can give to that is those numbers went into the 80s.”

Winslow says a major part of the staffing problem in the lack of affordable housing. He was surprised that 60% of those responding to the survey from across the state said they had a hard time attracting staff due to a lack of places in which they could afford to live.