A recent analysis by the Competence Center for Skilled Worker Security at the German Institute of Economic Affairs (IW) suggests that the shortage of skilled workers in the gastronomy sector may have a significant impact on sales on Valentine’s Day this year. According to the report, which was published in the Funke Media Group’s newspapers, there is a nationwide shortage of approximately 2,300 chefs with completed vocational training, in addition to more than 1,500 missing service staff.
Economist Felix Holzbeck notes in his analysis that the skilled worker shortage has already begun to decrease due to the weak economic situation. In 2022, the average monthly shortage of chefs was around 8,800.
There are currently significant differences between the federal states. In Bavaria, more than half of the open chef positions remain unfilled, at 55.7 percent, whereas the national average is 14.5 percent.
To ensure that couples do not have to wait too long for a table at a restaurant on Valentine’s Day in the future, businesses should take steps to secure skilled workers, such as recruiting international skilled workers, qualifying untrained individuals, or binding older employees beyond retirement age, Holzbeck said in an interview with the Funke newspapers.
The analysis also examined other “Valentine’s Day professions.” There is no skilled worker shortage in the floristry or confectionery sectors, but the wine industry is a different story, with 53.4 percent of open positions remaining unfilled in 2024, according to the report.