California school nutrition operators grapple with persistent labor shortages

California school nutrition programs are experiencing vacancy rates that are three times higher than vacancy rates for U.S. public school teachers, according to a study by the Chef Ann Foundation and the California School Nutrition Association in partnership with the Food Insight Group.

The study, which had food service directors in the state submit data during the 2022-23 school year, revealed that school food authorities had a combined vacancy rate of 12% and a turnover rate of 13%. In comparison, the nationwide public school teaching vacancy rate is 4% and the turnover rate is 1.5%.

Survey participants noted that the staffing challenges may be due to stiff competition with fast food or retail jobs as well as the presumed gap between the knowledge and skillset required for school foodservice positions compared to the salary offered.

California school nutrition professionals are not the only ones facing labor challenges. In the School Nutrition Association’s 2024 School Nutrition Trends Report, staff shortages were listed as a top concern by the school nutrition professionals who participated in the survey.

In 2022, California became the first in the nation to provide meals at school to all students free of charge. The study’s authors warn that the staffing challenges must be addressed for school nutrition programs in the state to successfully continue to provide all students with quality, healthy meals at school.

"California is leading the nation in school food reform - it has worthwhile and ambitious goals for supporting the lifelong health and success of kids," said Josh Rogers, the California School Nutrition Association's co-chair for the Public Policy and Legislation Committee, in a statement. "The next step is to address the barriers to realizing the state's commendable vision, which includes developing long-term solutions to school food staff shortages that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and remain pervasive."