Where did they go? As the school holidays approach, marking the start of “the peak season”, the question worries restaurateurs and hoteliers in tourist areas, many of whom deplore a shortage of seasonal workers. From La Trinité-sur-Mer to Quiberon via Belle-Ile-en-Mer, signs are popping up on the storefronts of establishments: “Looking for a waiter for the season”, “Position to be filled immediately”, “Good team “.
Cooks, clerks, waiters, divers… This year, all profiles are missing. “In this environment, I have known ups and downs, but never such a crisis”, launches Wednesday June 16 Patrice Le Boulch, 58 years old, casting his azure gaze on his closed terrace. Due to a lack of staff, the director was only able to open one of his two establishments in Quiberon. According to the Union of Trades and Hospitality Industries, between 100,000 and 140,000 people – or one tenth of employees in the sector – have changed jobs since the first confinement.
According to a survey by Pôle emploi published at the end of May in West France, 16% of current offers in Morbihan concern the hotel and catering sector, which makes it the leading provider of jobs. On the eve of the reopening of indoor restaurants, Emmanuel Macron had called for “General mobilization” in the hotel and catering sector and launched a call for “All those who are looking for a job”.
“All in trouble”
“The problem is massive, we are all in trouble”, insists Patrice, who still has to hire around thirty seasonal workers if he wants to be able to open his two establishments for the season. For now, he has managed to recruit about twenty people.
On the counter of Thérèse Couvert’s little sandwich shop, the curriculum vitae file is thin. “Usually I have a thick stack of resumes, it leaves me spoiled for choice”, testifies the owner of a fast food in Quiberon for more than thirty years. This year, she received just five nominations and is starting her season with one less than necessary.
Familiar with word of mouth, professionals had to review their method. Job center advertisements, professional websites, Facebook messages, signs on storefronts are all means of finding staff.
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