Industry Trends
by Sheldon | Jun 6, 2021 | 2 min read
On-demand hiring apps became a widely used solution as restaurants faced ongoing staffing challenges during the labor shortage.
Instead of relying solely on traditional hiring methods, many operators began turning to flexible staffing tools to fill immediate gaps and maintain service.
If you’re navigating hiring challenges and need a more structured approach, restaurant recruiting services can help build a more consistent hiring process.
As hiring became more difficult, restaurants needed faster and more flexible ways to staff shifts.
These platforms allowed operators to:
Fill last-minute call-outs
Access a broader pool of available workers
Reduce time spent on traditional recruiting
Maintain service during peak periods
Not all on-demand hiring platforms operate the same way. Some connect restaurants with workers for individual shifts, while others help employers identify candidates for longer-term positions. Understanding that distinction helps operators choose the right tools for immediate coverage and longer-term hiring needs.
While helpful, these tools also shifted how restaurants think about staffing.
Instead of building fully stable teams, some operators began relying more heavily on:
Temporary coverage
Flexible scheduling
External labor pools
This created a more reactive staffing model.
On-demand staffing tools solve immediate gaps, but they do not replace a structured hiring process.
Common limitations include:
Lack of long-term team consistency
Limited investment in training
Reduced accountability across shifts
Higher reliance on short-term solutions
Without structure, these tools can become a temporary fix rather than a sustainable strategy.
If you’re using these platforms, focus on:
Using them to support, not replace, core hiring
Maintaining clear expectations for all shifts
Keeping communication consistent across teams
Prioritizing long-term hires alongside short-term coverage
These tools became an important resource during the labor shortage, helping restaurants maintain operations amid uncertainty.
However, long-term hiring success still depends on structure, consistency, and clear communication.
Restaurants that balance flexibility with a strong hiring process are better positioned to build stable teams over time. For a closer look at these challenges, read our Restaurant Staffing Shortages article.
We were featured on CNBC discussing how restaurants turned to on-demand hiring apps during the labor shortage.
Original article: “Restaurants turn to on-demand hiring apps during the labor squeeze”
by Kate Dore
June 5, 2021
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Mis en Place helps independent restaurants and hospitality businesses build stronger teams through recruiting and hiring tools created specifically for the industry.