Overworked and underpaid: Chef shortage looms
Despite the hot demand for chefs, they are in short demand as they walk out en masse from the industry they love.
According to the National Skills Commission chefs ranked the eighth most in-demand occupation.
So, why is there a culinary skills shortage?
An Auckland University of Technology (AUT) study found wellbeing and working conditions were driving chefs away from the industry, with financial hardship and mental health issues having a big impact.
The AUT study, distributed through professional culinary associations, is the first quantitative survey to examine working conditions and mental health issues among chefs in Australia and New Zealand. Final responses were captured as Australasia emerged from COVID restrictions.
A previous study found exploitation in the industry was rife, with chefs suffering burnout and wage theft.
A different study published in 2022 by Springer Link titled Suicide among hospitality workers in Australia, 2006–2017 found chefs were significantly more likely than the general population to commit suicide.
The respondents for the AUT study were generally men, with an average age of 37, who had been chefs for around 16 years. 42 per cent had come from outside Australia to work.
44 per cent were in precarious employment, while 67 per cent worked more than 38 hours weekly, but a fifth of the chefs worked 52–61 hours. 6.33 per cent worked 62 hours or more. It found a quarter did not get their legally entitled breaks.
Almost one in five chefs said they went without meals due to financial pressure and many work when sick.
The 2023 Umbrella Wellbeing report found nearly one in 10 of the chefs suffered mental distress. Results showed high levels of physical and mental fatigue including exhaustion and disconnection.
Alarmingly, around 15 per cent consumed alcohol five or more days a week and 11.4 per cent said they had consumed hard drugs (LSD, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine or ecstasy) in the past year.
The majority said they were likely to look for a new employer during the next year outside of hospitality.
The report found that good management can help reduce stress and keep chefs in the job.
Jonathan Jackson, 12th March 2024
