The US restaurant industry is lacking in wages, not workers | Saru Jayaraman and Mark Bittman

The industry bemoans benefits, but workers don't want jobs where pay is low and risks high, say Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, and author Mark Bittman

Among the things Americans say they're looking forward to most when pandemic-related restrictions ends is having dinner in a restaurant with friends". But if the restaurant industry doesn't support higher wages, there will be fewer restaurants for customers to return to.

There is an unprecedented shortage of job applicants for restaurant jobs. In a new survey this week by One Fair Wage of more than 2,800 workers, more than half (53%) reported that they are thinking about leaving restaurants. More than three-quarters of workers surveyed (76%) said they are leaving restaurants because of low wages and tips - by far the most important reason for leaving - and a slightly higher percentage (78%) said that the factor that would make them stay in restaurants is a full, stable, livable wage".