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Why this longtime bartender quit the service industry

Dec 2, 2021
Neil Cairns of Oregon has been on an employment roller coaster the past two years. Now he’s trying something new.
Economists and central bankers abound are watching today's jobs report to get a gauge on inflation.
Photo by Thomas Patterson for Marketplace

Why this unemployed bartender feels “betrayed” by the nation's safety net

Mar 4, 2021
Neil Cairns of Portland, Oregon, is finding that returning to work is a tough job.
"I'm casting my net as wide as I can," says former bartender Neil Cairns about his search for work.
Thomas Patterson

COVID-19 has veteran bartenders and servers thinking about career moves

Jan 29, 2021
Making drinks and waiting tables used to be fallback occupations for many young people. The coronavirus is changing that.
Some bartenders and servers are wondering whether the risk is worth the reward.
Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images

How one unemployed bartender is making ends meet

May 4, 2020
A government stimulus check, unemployment benefits and helpful roommates are keeping Neil Cairns afloat — for now.
Bartender Neil Cairns in Portland, Oregon, hasn't been able to work since mid-March.
Thomas Patteron

One bartender faces the prospect of weeks without pay: “It’s gonna become a problem pretty quick.”

Mar 16, 2020
Neil Cairns, a bartender in Portland, Oregon says he'll just have to "hope for the best" as he faces reduced hours and the prospect of bar closures.
Neil Cairns at the Game Knight Lounge in Portland, Oregon.
Thomas Patterson

Meet Neil, 34, bartender

Feb 18, 2020
The Bureau of Labor Statistics would categorize Neil's job as a “service occupation,” along with a wide range of other workers. Two in 10 people work jobs in that category.
Thomas Patterson

Why do you share your secrets with strangers?

A bartender spills your secrets.

For public good, not for profit.