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Stories from the Great American Labor Shortage: An Update

This week, The Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and checking in on what has happened in the time since they first ran. This episode contains strong language. Bartenders, sous chefs, wait staff — back in August, managers in the U.S. hospitality industry were struggling to fill a range of roles at their establishments. One owner of a gourmet burger restaurant in Houston said that before the pandemic, a job opening could easily get 100 applicants — but that was no longer the case; applications were in the single digits. “I had never seen it like this before in my career,” he told us. “I’ve been doing this for over 25 years.” Managers blamed pandemic unemployment benefits for the dearth of job seekers. Employees said that the pandemic had opened their eyes to the realities of work. Today, we return to the country’s labor shortage to find out why so many Americans have left their jobs, and whether the people we spoke to back in August are working again.
Duration
30m
Broadcast on
27 Dec 2021
Audio Format
other

This week, The Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and checking in on what has happened in the time since they first ran.

This episode contains strong language.

Bartenders, sous chefs, wait staff — back in August, managers in the U.S. hospitality industry were struggling to fill a range of roles at their establishments.

One owner of a gourmet burger restaurant in Houston said that before the pandemic, a job opening could easily get 100 applicants — but that was no longer the case; applications were in the single digits. “I had never seen it like this before in my career,” he told us. “I’ve been doing this for over 25 years.”

Managers blamed pandemic unemployment benefits for the dearth of job seekers. Employees said that the pandemic had opened their eyes to the realities of work.

Today, we return to the country’s labor shortage to find out why so many Americans have left their jobs, and whether the people we spoke to back in August are working again.

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For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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This podcast is supported by TikTok. Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones you weren't looking for. That happens every day on TikTok. A science experiment can spark a whole new interest. A recipe you stumble upon can become a meal you make for the people you love. And a restaurant you've never heard of might become your new favorite spot. That's the thing about TikTok. Follow your curiosity and see where it leads. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok. Hey, it's Michael. This week, the Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and hearing what's happened in the time since they first ran. Today, we return to the country's labor shortage to find out why so many Americans have left their jobs since the start of the pandemic and whether the people we talk to back in August are working again. It's Monday, December 27th. Hello. Hello. This is Sydney Harper, producer with The Daily, here in DC. This is Claire Tennis Gutter. I am on Smith Street in Brooklyn. Walking up and down 18th Street in the nation's capital. 18th Street is a big hill. Challenge is to breathe and hard, breathe and hard. Breathe and hard. Hi. Hi, how are you? Hi, I'm a producer with The New York Times, a Daily News podcast. We're trying to do an episode looking at businesses and local restaurants, hiring people and if they're having trouble finding people. Can I get your name and your role here? Steve, Dela Plain, general manager. My name is Vanessa, and I'm the manager here at Sochita Karia. My name is Jonathan, and this is my family's restaurant. I am Danielle, from Saweley restaurant in Brooklyn. I'm Simone. I'm a manager at Momma Coppery. How big was your staff prepandemic and how big is it now? So in February, I believe we had about 13 employees. Now it's six of us. Pre-pandemic, we have staff close to 50. What do you got now?

Transcription truncated.

This week, The Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and checking in on what has happened in the time since they first ran. This episode contains strong language. Bartenders, sous chefs, wait staff — back in August, managers in the U.S. hospitality industry were struggling to fill a range of roles at their establishments. One owner of a gourmet burger restaurant in Houston said that before the pandemic, a job opening could easily get 100 applicants — but that was no longer the case; applications were in the single digits. “I had never seen it like this before in my career,” he told us. “I’ve been doing this for over 25 years.” Managers blamed pandemic unemployment benefits for the dearth of job seekers. Employees said that the pandemic had opened their eyes to the realities of work. Today, we return to the country’s labor shortage to find out why so many Americans have left their jobs, and whether the people we spoke to back in August are working again.