Yelp : and ZipRecruiter Help Independent Texas Restaurants Attract Workers Ahead of the Holidays

As restaurant capacity limitations lift, many restaurants are understaffed and unable to fill much needed roles. Every major industry in Texas suffered losses in jobs due to the pandemic, and the leisure and hospitality sector, which includes jobs in restaurants, dropped by 38% during the early days of COVID-19 lockdowns. As diner interest returns (and in some cases exceeds) pre-pandemic levels in Texas, many restaurants are also grappling with the ongoing labor shortage. Across the country, full-service restaurants are operating with 6.2 fewer employees in the back of the house and 2.8 fewer workers in the front of the house, compared with pre-pandemic staffing levels, according to a recent NRN report.

Today, Yelp is launching "Yelp for Help Wanted" to support the restaurant industry in Texas and encourage candidates to apply for these much-needed roles. Yelp is teaming up with ZipRecruiter, the leading online employment marketplace, to offer restaurateurs a free two-week trial to post open roles and help job seekers discover new opportunities.* From October 12th-October 26th, Yelp will also offer applicants a chance to win $500 with proof of qualifying job application at HelpWanted.Yelp.com, as an added incentive to help them get ready for their interviews.**

Recent studies have shown that hiring bonuses are the most appealing incentive for job seekers and can help business owners address the country's deepening worker shortage crisis. Staff shortages have always been a challenge for the restaurant industry but they've become worse during the pandemic as restaurateurs have needed to balance staff needs and costs against all other aspects of the business to maintain profitability. Our "Yelp for Help Wanted" program aims to support independent restaurants who don't have the resources to compete with the hiring incentives offered by larger chains. The campaign will ease some of the challenges faced by the skilled workers who comprise the industry and connect them with restaurant owners seeking to fill vacant roles.

"Unprecedented disruption to the restaurant industry during the pandemic has weighed heavily on workers and businesses. As we now emerge from this crisis, Yelp's mission of connecting people with great local businesses, and ZipRecruiter's mission of connecting people with great opportunities, have the potential to turn everything around," said Julia Polak, Chief Economist at ZipRecruiter.

Interested job seekers can visit ZipRecruiter.com to see a list of current job openings at locally-owned, independent businesses in the restaurant industry. To enter for a chance to win, submit proof of application for an eligible job with a restaurant in Texas at HelpWanted.Yelp.com.

Texas-based independent restaurant owners can visit ZipRecruiter.com/Yelp to redeem their free two-week trial and post open roles at their businesses. With restaurants hiring urgently, Yelp has provided resources to help restaurateurs learn how to craft a compelling job listing and how to hire the right restaurant staff.

*New eligible ZipRecruiter customers only. Terms and conditions apply.
**Fifty (50) winners will be eligible to receive a $500 American Express gift card. See official rules at HelpWanted.Yelp.com.