How one McDonald's managed to attract workers during a labor shortage

A McDonald's in Medford, Oregon, has gotten attention online for a banner it put up looking to hire 14- and 15-year-olds amid the labor shortage. The McDonald's operator, Heather Coleman, told Business Insider that the minimum wage raise to $15 an hour didn't bring in as many job applicants as she'd hoped, but she got about 25 applications in two weeks when they put the call out for 14- and 15-year-olds. She called the young workers "a blessing in disguise," saying, "They have the drive and work ethic. They get the technology. They catch on really quickly."Insider said other fast food chain restaurants are also looking to younger workers as they face a shortage of employees, with restaurant workers continuing to leave the industry at record rates. Although states have different labor laws, the federal minimum age for non-agricultural jobs is 14. Teens who are 14 and 15 are allowed to work in restaurants and quick-service businesses, with the number of hours and times of the week specified by law.