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Staffing 1 min read Published 1 June 2026

Hiring when everyone says they "can’t find anyone"

You can’t hire who’s already happy. So your funnel needs to be wider, faster and visible to the people who aren’t looking.

The hospitality hiring market hasn’t actually got harder — it’s got slower. The good ones are employed and not scrolling Seek. Your funnel has to reach the people who aren’t looking.

Three channels that work in 2026

  1. Instagram story posts from your venue’s account. Casual, “we’re hiring a sous-chef who likes Sicilian food and finishes service by 10pm”. The post gets shared by exactly the people you want.
  2. Referral bonuses, paid out at 90 days. $500 for a kitchen hire, $300 for FOH. Costs less than a Seek ad and pulls better candidates.
  3. Open trial nights — one evening a month, anyone can do a paid 2-hour trial shift. Lower friction than applying.

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