• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newscast
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • Cities Stories
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Launch Your Creative Vision with CCX Create
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Restaurants Struggle to Fill Positions, Ask ‘Where Are the Workers?’

3:59 PM | Thursday, May 20, 2021

Now is an excellent time to be in the market for a job. Businesses are bouncing back from the pandemic. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the state lost 416,300 jobs from February through April 2020 and has since gained 235,300 jobs, or 56.5% of the jobs lost on a seasonally adjusted basis. The private sector has regained 57.7% of the jobs lost. However, many restaurants and retail shops tell CCX News that they are having a hard time filling positions.

“If there are good applicants, there are several employers that are trying to woo them,” said Josh Dykhuis, co-owner of Birdhouse Eat and Drink.

The Robbinsdale restaurant is short-staffed, so Dykhuis is also helping in the kitchen.

“It’s taxing, and I’m tired. We could use some cooks and servers,” he said.

Birdhouse

Birdhouse Eat And Drink opens in Robbinsdale is having a hard time hiring servers and cooks.

The popular eatery opened last August during the height of the pandemic and hasn’t recovered. The owner is putting in long days but is excited to return to normal by extending hours. But at the same time, he’s nervous about doing that.

“The question is, do we have the staff for it? And right now, I don’t think we do,” Dykhuis explained.

Dykhuis also said the labor shortage affects the global supply chain and makes things challenging for restaurants.

“Our vendors are frequently out of product, leaving us without the food, drink, and supplies we need to operate. There have been numerous times where suppliers don’t have the warehouse workers and drivers to fill our orders,” he said.

Restaurants on Worker Shortage: ‘We Can’t Hire Anybody’

Down the street at the Wicked Wort Brewing Co., the taproom and restaurant is also feeling the pain of trying to add people to the payroll.

“The struggle is that we can’t hire anybody,” said Wicked Wort owner Steve Carlyle. “We hire people, and then they don’t show up for work. They don’t even show up for work.”

Both the taproom and its coffee shop are in search of excellent employees.

“Between both companies here, we could easily use up to eight people,” explained Carlyle.

Members of the family-owned business are spreading themselves thin, filling in and covering vacant work shifts, and Carlyle sometimes cooks on Monday.

Some hiring managers say there are many reasons they’re scrambling to find employees. But the main factor seems to be some potential workers prefer to live off unemployment benefits, which have been higher during the pandemic.

“It’s great the government is helping out people in need, but at the same time, it’s kind of having a backlash effect,” said Dykhuis.

“They’re getting paid by the government, and they’re just not wanting to work,” remarked Carlyle.

Both Robbinsdale businesses say they hope things turn around sooner rather than later.

Sponsored

Robbinsdale

Related Stories

Expert on Minnesota Special Session: ‘Public Is Going To Be Surprised’:  The most divided… Read More
North Memorial Nurses Picket Over Contract Fight:  Nurses across Minnesota hit the pavement this week… Read More
Metro Transit Seeks Input for Bus Stop Signs:  Do the signs at bus stops meet the needs of riders?… Read More
Robbinsdale Considers Ordinance Change To Prevent Camping on Public Property:  The city of Robbinsdale… Read More
Robbinsdale Pastor, Activist Charged with Wage Theft:  Bishop Harding Smith, a prominent community… Read More
Blue Line Extension Project Office Hosts ‘DREAM Sessions’:  A group called the DREAM Team is… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
  CCX MEDIA     SPORTS
 NEWS                SPORTS
SPORTS.           SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2025 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in