MILWAUKEE -- Teenagers are not applying for jobs like they used to, and because of that, nearly every restaurant in Wisconsin is looking to hire.
WISC-TV reports the number of restaurant openings has increased by more than 40 percent over the last 20 years while the number of teens entering the workforce has decreased by 30 percent.
Susan Quam, executive vice president of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, says there are more jobs than there are people to fill them. Business owners are trying to overcome this problem by broadening their workforce.
This means working with people who are re-entering the workforce after prison or people who have disabilities according to Quam.
Owners are also offering better hours and pay to encourage more workers to apply.
The Wisconsin Restaurant Association would like to see reliable guest visa programs to allow workers from outside the U.S. to fill these jobs.
