SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Bay Area restaurants are facing a hiring hurdle.
As the pandemic took hold, many laid-off workers left the region.
RELATED: How will San Francisco's Union Square, downtown businesses recover from COVID-19 pandemic?
Now that restaurants are reopening, owners are facing major staffing shortages.
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Some owners say they are raising wages and adding benefits in hopes of attracting new employees.
RELATED: Olive Garden raises hourly wages in bid to attract workers
A small labor pool means restaurants may take even longer to reopen.
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Some businesses may be forced to shut down permanently.