SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— San Francisco’s unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in six years, but for those in the restaurant industry, the booming economy is making it hard for some small businesses to fill their job openings.
Chef and owner Brad Levy is in a hurry to hire two line cooks for his Noe Valley restaurant, Firefly, at 24th and Douglass. In three weeks he’s only received two applicants, neither of which responded to his follow-up efforts.
READ MORE: SF Man Found Fatally Shot Early Saturday Near Oakland's Lake Merritt“There’s an increase in demand in restaurants with all the wealth that’s in the city right now, so there’s more restaurants, less cooks and what cooks there are, are being snatched up for private cooking jobs,” said Levy.
READ MORE: Counties Across California Want Out of Blue Shield-Administered Vaccine ProgramThe city’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in April, well below the 7.3 percent seen statewide. Levy said restaurants are competing for talent.
