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Half of U.S. Hospitality Workers Won’t Return in Job Crunch

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  • A majority say no pay increase would make them go back: survey
  • Joblist report highlights hiring challenges for restaurants
A "Now Hiring" sign outside a restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

A "Now Hiring" sign outside a restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

 Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg

More than half of U.S. hospitality workers wouldn’t go back to their old jobs and over a third aren’t even considering reentering the industry, according to a survey that underscores hiring challenges for restaurants, bars and hotels.

No pay increase or incentive would make these workers return to their previous workplace, according to a poll of about 13,000 job seekers during the second quarter from Joblist, an employment-search engine. These former hospitality employees cited wanting higher pay, a less physically demanding workplace and better benefits, the survey finds.