Restaurants still scrambling for staff as a busy Okanagan summer looms

As the Okanagan gears up for a busy tourist season this summer, the local restaurant industry is still struggling with a massive labour shortage.

British Columbia Restaurant and Food Services Association president Ian Tostenson says the industry is short 30,000 to 35,000 people across the province.

"It is significant. People left the industry, they went back to school, they got other jobs, the economy is growing, and we have always had a labour shortage in B.C. even before the pandemic, but now it has been amplified," he said.

Before the pandemic, the labour shortage was limited to primarily kitchen staff.

"Now it is all positions. So it is unfortunate because business is really strong right now and I think tourism is going to be really strong in the Okanagan and we are starting to feel that with restaurants already. We will get through this, but it puts a lot of strain on the existing employees and owners of these properties."

Despite the lack of staff, Tostenson says there are a number of ways the industry can manage.

"Take a winery, for example, they may say you know we are going to do cheese plates instead of doing elaborate food and so it is going to make it easier for the chefs to prepare for more people. You end up seeing restaurants simplifying their menus and eliminating foods that are being hit by the supply challenges and inflation."

Jason Parkes Customs — owner of The Hatch Winery, Crown and Thieves, Truck 59 Ciderhouse, The Hatching Post and Black Swift Vineyards — says they too have had to pivot.

"We had to shut down a pizza truck," Jason Parkes said. "We had a pizza truck that we wanted to do this year and we were all excited about it and we are selling it. Hours of operation have fluctuated a bit. You just have to adapt to it."

Parkes says thankfully, it hasn't been too difficult for them to hire and keep good quality staff.

"It hasn't been all bad for us. It has taken a lot more effort obviously to get out there and to compete to get these people, but all in all, we have gotten some pretty good people this year, I would say."

"The biggest thing we do, is we started early expecting that it was going to be a challenge and a competitive labour market," said business partner Graham Dell. "One of the things Jason and I have focused on over the last number of years is working hard to create things in the summer that will allow us to retain staff in the winter."

The industry is also leaning on technology, such as implementing app-based ordering.

"More popular right now is you no longer have to wait for the server to come over, you can go online and go on with your app and pay your bill and the server will be notified. It allows the server to be at more tables," Tostenson said.

"At the very extreme there are robots that will bring your meals to you," he added.

Kelowna's Smitty's has already rolled one of those out.

The industry is also paying more than ever. Recent data showed the average tourism and hospitality worker in the Okanagan made $24 per hour in April, up $2 from the same time the year before.