Trained Kitchen Staff In High Demand In Central Minnesota [AUDIO]

ST. CLOUD - More and more restaurants are opening here in Central Minnesota, and that's creating a shortage of kitchen help.

Jay Thomas is the Culinary Arts Instructor at the St. Cloud Technical and Community College. He says finding trained chefs has always been an issue. He says he just received a report of 20 new job openings, looking to be filled.

Thomas says there's a waiting list every year.

Thomas says one reason for the large number of openings is there's a high burn-out rate in the industry because most of the hours are on nights and weekends.

The St. Cloud Technical and Community College has had a culinary arts program since the mid 1960's. They added a two-year degree program about five years ago. Thomas says they have a 100-percent job placement rate.