Article source: ConstructConnect+
I don’t know why this hasn’t received more attention and I’m finding it a little hard to believe, given that there are still pockets of the economy that have not fully reopened, but according to the Census Bureau, sales by food services and drinking places (i.e., bars and restaurants) have climbed to a level slightly above where they were prior to the pandemic.
This is a remarkable achievement. Graph 1 shows the disastrous decline in the activity level of this sector in the Spring of 2020 when the arrival of the coronavirus confined gourmands and watering hole patrons to their homes.
The toll on the employment of young adults was especially severe. Now, finally, their prospects are looking brighter again. But now, also, the debate over whether they are paid enough heats up.
Resistance to raising minimum wages will be butting heads with an unprecedented new problem, a difficulty in finding enough willing workers to fill open positions in the hospitality (and many other) sectors.
