As the spread of covid-19 has decreased, the restrictions in society are gradually eased.

On July 1, the restaurants were able to return to regular opening hours after having had to close earlier for several months.

According to the industry and employer organization Visita, many employers find it difficult to find qualified labor.

- We receive signals from several of our members that they have difficulty finding staff as the restrictions have been eased.

They came with fairly short notice and then it will be a challenge to find staff when we now have the opportunity to be open longer, says Peter Thomelius, head of competence supply at Visita.

He wants the industry to work actively in both the short and long term to reduce staff shortages.

- Of course, we must continue to talk about the opportunity and attractiveness of the industry and continue to raise the quality of the vocational training that leads to jobs in our industries.

We must also make demands on the Swedish Public Employment Service so that they match those who have become unemployed during the pandemic against the occupations that are available now in the industry now that things are turning around.

The union shares the image

The Hotel and Restaurant Union (HRF) has just over 27,000 members in June, with about 100 new members in the past month.

The corresponding figure was just before the pandemic, in December 2019, a little over 29,000.

- We have definitely received signals from the employer side that you do not find skills and in some cases do not find the right skills.

It is true that many have left the industry, but it is also true that the industry has the highest unemployment in Sweden, says Malin Ackholt, chairman of HRF.

She believes that employers and jobseekers are not in the same arena.

In addition, there needs to be a greater opportunity for skills updating so that more people can take part in the vacancies.

- Those who are unemployed have previously worked in the industry, so the skills are there. I believe that employers must become better at telling broader people that they are looking for staff, so that the unemployed and employers can find each other in a better way, says Malin Ackholt.