A majority of restaurants in the Chicago area have faced worker shortages in the past few years, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers have been working longer shifts and working at various locations to keep restaurants open. A recent study reported that 82% of restaurants in Chicago have been short workers, and 40% of these restaurants have not had enough chefs in the kitchen. The turnover rate in Chicago is 30%, which is greater than the national turnover percentage in the United States. Another struggle restaurants in Chicago are facing is rising resource costs, and the prices of materials have steadily increased over the past years. Most restaurants have passed the increase in resource costs onto consumers, and the prices of restaurant food items have also been on the rise.
See "The restaurant industry in Chicago is facing worker shortages and increasing resource costs", Audrey Hettleman, Chicago Sun Times, January 30, 2024