Across the globe there seems
to be a shortage of young people entering our industry!
Could it be the growth of new and up coming industries ?
The boom of the technological Era and the online work at home job?
Are our youth too mummy cuddled and unprepared for a hard day's work?
Or is it that we require far more to get the job done now?
Long gone are the days of full teams and a waiting list of people to work in the top restaurants, as a youngster coming up through the industry it was a privilege to work in a top restaurant, you were under constant pressure to perform otherwise the next person would be waiting all to eager to take your spot.
Fifteen to sixteen hour days were normal and that was the industry standard, if you wanted to be at the top you had to work for it and if you didn't, someone else would, only passionate in it for the love professionals would survive!
What happened ?
The industry has seen a major shift in recent years, now these same prestigious restaurants previously bragging waiting lists of staff are on the knees begging for staff!
Fewer youngsters entering the industry and those that do, demanding sous chef salaries for an 8 hour shift!
In my opinion, we are in part baring the mistakes of our mentors of the previous Era.
It has been widely documented the challenges, chefs and hospitality workers have long faced both mental and physical.
Cooking has been brought to the forefront of popular culture.
Those looking on from the sidelines have said fuck that shit, I'm not working an eternity for a minimal salary!
Looking back, we were so clearly exploited, owners creamed it maximizing profits by overworking teams with minimal man power!
It has almost completely flipped on it's head to the point that it is often more profitable for an individual to be employed than it is to own a hospitality business !
Now for sure the margins had to close a bit, the front line workers are those doing the craft to drive the business but and a very big but...... what about those who take the risk? As an employee if a business fails, ok not great but hey guess what just get another job, but as an owner you lose a business, people can lose homes !
This makes the industry less and less desirable, what have I got to aspire to?
Margins are becoming smaller and smaller in our industry, business's are becoming less and less profitable, as a result our industry is becoming less and less attractive to youngsters coming into the industry!
Big changes have been made and great positive steps have been taken to ensue better working conditions and better rates of pay but profit margins are shrinking and action needs to be taken by the industry to ensure that we are able to attract passionate, driven professionals in the future!
Unfortunately our industry is more and more becoming an industry for those without options who fall into it because they have nothing else!
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