Michigan's restaurants and bars can open for indoor dining beginning Monday, Feb. 1, with some restrictions. | Adobe Stock
Michigan's restaurants and bars can open for indoor dining beginning Monday, Feb. 1, with some restrictions. | Adobe Stock
While COVID-19 has negatively impacted jobs in the Michigan restaurant industry, the state government seems to have avoided the same fate.
A state workforce report reveals that there were 47,522 full-time jobs in state government for the 2019-20 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, compared to 47,324 in 2018-19, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential. Meanwhile, employment in Michigan restaurants and bars has decreased from 325,600 jobs in February to 239,200 jobs in October, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential.
One-third of Michigan restaurants surveyed by the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association in December said they expected to be out of business within the next six months. This was prior to the announcement that restaurants and bars in Michigan would be able to reopen for indoor dining beginning Monday, Feb. 1.
Next week, Michigan's dining establishments will be authorized to operate at 25% capacity, with a maximum of 100 people, and must close by 10 p.m., according to The Chicago Tribune. The capacity level is lower than the 50% capacity that was allowed between June and November of last year.