Shortage of staff hits coastal holidays: restaurants and bakeries close earlier!

Shortage of staff hits coastal holidays: restaurants and bakeries close earlier!

In the picturesque coastal regions of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, holidaymakers and locals are increasingly feeling the effects of a persistent shortage of staff in the catering industry. Many restaurants, bars and bakeries are forced to shorten their opening hours, which causes frustration, especially during peak season. How World reported that numerous businesses on the coasts have had to temporarily close their doors earlier or have introduced longer days off.

One example is the bakeries on Sylt, some of which even had to close for a long time. An operator opened a self-service branch in Westerland to meet demand. The “Saimons” restaurant in Nieblum on Föhr has also felt the challenges of the lack of staff: in winter it only opened three days a week and in the future from 12 p.m., which, however, still corresponds to a limited framework.

A profound problem

The President of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) Schleswig-Holstein, Axel Strehl, points out that in addition to the noticeable shortage of staff, a change in the lifestyles of guests is also leading to the shortened opening times. Many holidaymakers eat breakfast later and eat the classic lunch less often, which explains the decline in lunch business. In various coastal towns, many restaurants have removed lunch entirely from the menu in order to adjust their serving times. Also star reports on these developments.

According to the industry association DEHOGA, there is a shortage of more than 65,000 workers in the German hospitality industry, and the Federal Employment Agency reported over 33,000 job vacancies in June alone. This shows that it's not just about filling positions, but that there are simply not enough applicants. A comparison with previous years shows the dramatic worsening of the problem since the corona pandemic. In June 2019, almost 40,000 positions were advertised - today there are worryingly many fewer, although according to DEHOGA the actual need is at least twice as high.

Impact on the industry

The situation is no different in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The number of employees in restaurants fell by 0.9 percent last year, while the number of guests increased at the same time. Some restaurants close their kitchens after 8 p.m. because there are not enough chefs available, as can be seen in the “Seeblick” restaurant in Kummerow. The DEHOGA in the region expresses concern about the development, which prevents the catering establishments from being able to fully utilize their capacity.

Catering businesses are responding to these challenges with creative solutions: They are increasingly relying on self-service and reducing their menus. Companies in rural regions find it particularly difficult to find suitable employees because the competition for skilled workers in the industry is huge. daily news notes that competition is particularly challenging for small and medium-sized businesses in rural areas.

The industry's hopes now rest on a reform of immigration regulations to make it easier to employ refugees and on an offensive for dual vocational training so that more young people can be attracted to practical careers. It remains to be seen whether such measures will provide much-needed relief.