MONTREAL - Jobs are going begging in Quebec kitchens, according to the provincial restaurant association. Not only are chefs hard to find locally, but they're increasingly hard to import, as other countries compete for trained kitchen help.
About 8,000 jobs were created in Quebec restaurants in 2011, according to Quebec Restaurant Association representative Francois Meunier. Quebec's restaurant schools did not pump out enough manpower to meet those needs.
The association initially sounded the manpower alarm seven years ago and yet the shortage remains ongoing, particularly in the Quebec City region.
"In the future, successful restaurateurs will have strong human resource management skills," said Meunier.
Meunier also called for increased apprenticeships and expanded job training.
Tourists have been particularly keen on sampling Quebec's restaurants but Meunier points out that visitors still only constitute one-fifth of the overall restaurant market.
"We must invest to attract foreign tourists, but don't forget that 80 percent of the clientele is comprised of locals," said Meunier.
He also suggested that the government reverse recent tax changes that make it harder to write-off business lunches.
"Every dollar spent in a restaurant represents taxes, taxes and jobs," said Meunier. "Encouraging the restaurant industry is profitable for government in the long term."
