With the world’s biggest outdoor show set to kick off on Thursday night, many businesses are still trying to find staff to cope with the large crowds expected over the next two weeks.
“It’s crazy good”, David Howard with The event group said. “I mean, for two or three years we didn’t do much, so it’s great to have Stampede back.”
The Event Group specializes in large-scale cooperative parties and celebrations that entertain at least 500 people per event.
This year, the company has six planned over the course of the Stampede, but Howard said there has been trouble finding staff.
“Caterers, lighting companies and sound companies are short-staffed,” Howard explained. “In fact, we had to turn down three events and move them later in the year because we just couldn’t find the team.”
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That bittersweet sentiment is also echoed by other business owners in the Calgary hospitality industry.
“We are all understaffed, dramatically,” modern steak owner Stephen Deere said.
Deere owns three locations throughout Calgary, but said it will have to temporarily close one restaurant for the next 10 days in order to properly staff the location on Stephen Avenue, the closest to the Stampede grounds.
“As we’re standing here on Stephen Avenue, there isn’t a restaurant that isn’t hiring here,” Deere said. “There isn’t a restaurant that isn’t paying above-average wages, there are all kinds of benefits at all these places, and we’re still not getting people in.”
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Alberta Hospitality Association Chairman Ernie Tsu said the problem is not just affecting the people of Calgary, but is widespread throughout Alberta.
“All hospitality areas in the province … there are labor shortages,” Tsu said. “It’s starting to come back with students becoming a little more active in the job market, but it’s been a struggle to make sure the positions are filled.”
According to the May City of Calgary Labor market report the overall service sector in the Calgary Economic Region grew by 75,800 jobs year over year with a total of 43,100 employed in the accommodation and food services sector.
However, that is still nowhere near the 56,000 employees in May 2019 before the pandemic hit.
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Tsu said the hotel industry, like others, continues to compete for talent.
“I think there are so many options right now,” Tsu said. “It’s not just our industry that has a labor shortage. We can see what is happening in the airline industry and we can see it in supply chain management and in construction.”
Deere said the problem is now causing many employees to feel overwhelmed as more work piles up on their plates.
“It’s causing burnout, it’s causing anxiety and it’s causing people to leave the industry and that’s why we’re having trouble getting people back,” Deere said.
“Honestly, with the workforce being so dry right now, I don’t think we’re going to be out of it for six months or two years.”
Despite the challenges, Deere said he is focused on getting through the next ten days and is ready to wow travelers around the world.
He added that anyone looking for work should head to their local restaurant.
“We’re definitely hiring,” Deere said. “I will speak for all restaurants in Calgary, we are all hiring.”
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