Another Minnesota restaurant joined the list of local establishments unable to find enough employees to keep their business running.
Capitol View Café in St. Paul announced on Facebook Monday that it will be closed until further notice, citing both a worker shortage and “COVID on the rise.”
“With a shortage of workers and COVID on the rise, we need to focus on moving forward — if it is doable or not,” reads a post from the restaurant.
“We truly hope to see you soon,” the post continues.
Another recent post from the Capitol View Café advertises job openings for servers, urging those interested to visit the restaurant and apply.
Several Minnesota restaurants and small businesses have cut their hours significantly in recent months because of the inability to find enough workers.
As reported by The Center Square, over 10 million jobs are available in the United States, while fewer than nine million Americans are currently unemployed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said.
Republicans argue the reason for this mass of job openings not being filled is continued unemployment benefits: those on unemployment can receive $300 per week in federal benefits, plus state benefits depending on their residency. For many, this is more convenient than going back to work.
Morning Consult reported in July that an estimated 1.84 million jobs were not accepted during COVID-19 due to unemployment benefits being accessible.
As of a few months ago, almost 40% of small businesses in the U.S. had closed since COVID-19 began. The leisure and hospitality industry, including bars and restaurants, saw a 52.4% decrease, according to economics outlet Opportunity Insights.
Rose Williams
Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.
