Self-Ordering Kiosks: One Solution to the Current Labor Shortage

The food and beverage industry is on a hiring frenzy. With pandemic-related restrictions being eased and dine-in being allowed again, restaurant owners are in need of a lot of staff. The April 2021 Job Openings and Labor Turnover summary issued by The Department of Labor showed that restaurants added almost 350,000 new job openings since March, bringing the sector’s total number of job openings as of April to 1.34 million. 

However, finding people to fill these vacancies has been exceedingly difficult, creating a severe labor shortage in the restaurant world. A recent study by The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that, despite regular hiring since this spring, the food and beverage industry still remains 1.5 million jobs (12 percent) short. According to a National Restaurant Association study done in April, 84 percent of operators surveyed said staffing was lower than required, with 47 percent stating that their staff numbers were more than 20 percent under the pre-pandemic…