DRA Releases Industry Operations Survey Indicating Dramatic Workforce Struggles;
Nearly Nine in Ten Restaurants Currently Operating with Inadequate Staffing
Newark, DE – The Delaware Restaurant Association (DRA) today released the results of a recent hospitality industry survey* conducted to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the industry approximately 3 months after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Despite anecdotal stories of industry recovery, the data makes clear that the industry still faces significant challenges tied to its workforce, inflationary pressures, and the re-emergence of COVID-19 variants. Read the full press release here.
Delaware’s restaurant industry continues to be devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Marking the one year anniversary of restaurant shutdowns (March 16th), hospitality employment remains down 22%, and the DRA estimates that the state’s restaurants have lost more than $1.2 billion in annual sales revenues since March 2020.
“It’s dangerous to see open restaurants and think, ‘Oh they’re fine; they’re open and profitable again’ – when the reality is, that couldn’t be farther from the truth,” said Carrie Leishman, DRA President & CEO. “Restaurants are existing on subsidies right now, and those programs will eventually end, the money spent. We need to continue to support our vital small businesses at every level, including the push for vaccination of our essential workers.”
Click to read the Delaware Restaurant Industry (DRA) Press Release to mark the one year anniversary of restaurant shutdowns in Delaware, containing more industry statistics and overall economic impact, consumer trends, and relief efforts and programs available to the industry.
