The average hourly pay for temporary chefs has increased by as much as 20% in some parts of the UK as the hospitality sector struggles with recruitment.
The findings from Indeed Flex reveal that, hourly rates have increased by 11% on average, compared to +5% for other restaurant roles, with Cardiff seeing the highest increase of +20%.
Birmingham has seen average hourly pay increase by 16%, and York by 13%, with London in fourth place at 12%.
The online staffing platform for temporary work analysed tens of thousands of chef shifts posted on its platform, with chef job postings up by 97% on average across the UK, compared to 2021.
It also found that many chefs are choosing not to work the long, unsociable hours, traditionally associated with the job, and are valuing the extra flexibility they get from temporary roles.
More than half (57%) of chefs taking shifts through Indeed Flex are choosing to work more sociable hours, such as a conventional 9-5 schedule, compared to the 43% who work late nights.
“Intense competition among employers for skilled staff has driven up hourly pay rates for temp workers across the board. Chefs are especially sought after, and can reap big rewards with their expertise,” Novo Constare, CEO and Co-founder of Indeed Flex, said:
“Meanwhile for businesses that are struggling to recruit full-time staff, being able to turn to temporary workers has proved a lifeline — as it enables them to fill shifts as and when required. They can also scale their workforce up and down, depending on when they are busiest.
“For the chefs themselves, flexible work offers a chance to do something not everyone in their profession can — work sociable hours and choose exactly when they want to work.”
