Waitstaff gender balance in Europe
 

I've eaten at many high end restaurants this year (all but a couple in Europe), and one thing is abundantly clear - wait staff at these places are by far disproportionally male - I would guess along the lines of 90% or more based on my recollections of the year. This is only in Europe however - our waitstaff at two different Michelin starred restaurants in the US were all female.

Not that it matters obviously, just wondering if anyone knows why there is such a disparity here in the balance? Seems more disproportionate the more highly esteemed the restaurant.

My impression is that wait staff (and associated staff) is much less numerous than in the U.S. Thus, a college student is unlikely to have a job in this field as a part-time job; rather, the staffing tends to be more professional.

In part, this is likely the case because of higher wage costs in the restaurant sector and a more rigid labor market, where employees can not be hired/let go on a whim. So, there are fewer, better-paid employees, expected to do more, and, at busy times, a customer can easily notice poorer service, with long waits for things like beverages.

I've also noticed another phenomenon: some smaller restaurants that are short-staffed during busy periods put "reserved" signs on certain tables...apparently not because the table is actually reserved for someone, but rather because they are not staffed to properly take care of all the tables that day.

All this may relate to the OP's point, in part: with less turnover, there may be more established persons working in this field, and more of them may be men.

It's not an observation I recognise from my visits to Michelin starred restaurants and high need places in Scotland. Maitre d'hotel seems to be more likely to be male, but in the actual restaurants themselves, I've seen a balance.

It's not an observation I've had, but then I haven't been looking out for it either. If it is the case, I'm sure it's to do with the different employment practices between the USA and most European countries - minimum wage, security of employment, different tipping environment etc. Also, if you are talking about high end places, where waiting on table is more a career than a casual job, it could also be to do with preparedness to work late into the evening and get home after midnight on public transport.

You know, you've just raised a question I've often thought of, particularly with respect to London - how do all those hordes of restaurant workers get home late at night after the tube has stopped? Night busses? I know they're not all living in the West End.

In the average bar/bistro/restaurant in Germany, the waiters are more likely to be young, attractive females. High end restaurants are sometimes a bit different.

Yes. It's night busses mostly. Some bicycle.

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