I remember a year ago (peak “labor shortage” in the food industry), visiting a middle sized, remote New England town. We went to a Chili’s where there were 2 w

I remember a year ago (peak “labor shortage” in the food industry), visiting a middle sized, remote New England town. We went to a Chili’s where there were 2 wait staff to service ~100 seats, maybe 40 of which were full, and it was as chaotic and depressing as you could imagine. Sentiment among customers was “it’s a shame nobody wants to work anymore.” “Help wanted” in the window. The next day we went to a locally-owned and operated brewery + pub in the same town. It was overflowing with about 120 eager patrons and buzzing with 20+ smiling and joking wait staff of all generations. We don’t have a labor shortage, we have a quality employer shortage.