After the COVID-19 restrictions were eased, restaurants and hotels in the Jacksonville area were simultaneously hit by staff shortages in multiple locations in northeast Florida from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The host is the Northeast Chapter of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Event recruitment should help local restaurateurs and hoteliers fill vacancies. These facilities have been hit hard by staff shortages since they reopened after the mandatory shutdown of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are working to fill over 1,000 open positions in the northeast Florida hospitality industry,” said Nicole Chapman, regional director.

Chapman said many of the employees offer signing bonuses and competitive pay. In addition, the state hotel industry offers growth and advancement opportunities, she said in the press release.

The event is free and interviews will be held at each location on this day.

More: Guests are back in Jacksonville’s restaurants. However, chefs and waiters are not, which is a new problem for the owners.

More: The St. Augustine restaurant industry is facing a crippling labor shortage

Scott Wellington, president of the Northeast Chapter and general manager of Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park, said the regional market “is leading the recovery from the pandemic”.

“And labor shortages are hindering timely and quality service,” he said. “Our members want to meet our customers’ expectations and help bring life back to normal.”

Face masks are required and other pandemic restrictions will be met, according to association officials.

Here are the locations of the job fairs:

  • Jacksonville – Downtown Markets in Prati Italia, 4972 Big Island Drive near downtown St. Johns.
  • Fernandina Beach – Atlantic Auditorium at the Atlantic Recreation Center, 2500 Atlantic Ave.
  • Jacksonville Beach – Four Points from Sheraton Jacksonville Beachfront, 11 N. First St.
  • St. Augustine – Holiday Inn Express & Suites St. Augustine North, 2300 Florida 16.

More: Companies are trying to maintain remote working following a COVID pandemic

The sandwich chain Subway also announced that it plans to hire 40,000 new employees this month, including about 100 in Jacksonville. For more information visit mysubwaycareer.com for a full list of vacancies in the region, or send a SUBHIRE text to 242424.

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