Research
June 02, 2026
Restaurant Job Openings
Restaurant and lodging job openings slowed in April
While total job openings across the U.S. economy increased, the restaurant and lodging sector saw declines for the third consecutive month, falling from a revised 753,000 in March to 679,000 in April. It is important to note that Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data can be volatile month to month. A similar dip occurred in April 2025, when openings dropped to 666,000, suggesting that some of the recent softness may reflect seasonal patterns.
Over the past 12 months, job openings in the sector have averaged 855,000, indicating that accommodation and foodservice businesses continue to seek workers at a healthy pace despite broader economic uncertainty. At the same time, there are clearer signs of labor market easing. From 2017 to 2019, job openings averaged 835,000 per month, putting current levels not far from pre-pandemic norms. This points to a stabilization following the unusually elevated postings seen roughly three years ago.
Hiring activity also softened in April. After increasing in March, hires declined from 855,000 to 803,000, while separations rose from 788,000 to 805,000. As a result, net hiring (hires minus separations) totaled -2,000, marking the second net decline in the past three months.
Over a longer time horizon, hiring averaged 895,000 per month between 2017 and 2019, with separations averaging 875,000. Over the past year, however, those averages have fallen to 823,000 hires and 802,000 separations—both below pre-pandemic levels. Taken together, these trends align with broader indicators pointing to a gradually softening labor market in the restaurant and lodging sector.
Recent data have been consistent with the transition from the “Great Resignation” prevalent a few years ago to the current “Great Stay” period, which has been closer to pre-pandemic trends. For comparison, quits averaged 4.22 million for nonfarm payrolls and 787,000 for restaurants and lodging in 2022, when the labor market was historically tight and businesses struggled to find sufficient workers. Over the past 12 months, quits averaged 3.12 million and 619,000, respectively.
Even so, restaurant operators continue to report an easing in hiring challenges, particularly compared with conditions three years ago. For context, the labor market was significantly tighter in July 2022, when job openings outnumbered unemployed individuals by roughly two to one. At that point, there were just 49.7 unemployed workers per 100 job openings, with openings exceeding job seekers by more than 5.84 million.
Over the past 12 months, job openings in the sector have averaged 855,000, indicating that accommodation and foodservice businesses continue to seek workers at a healthy pace despite broader economic uncertainty. At the same time, there are clearer signs of labor market easing. From 2017 to 2019, job openings averaged 835,000 per month, putting current levels not far from pre-pandemic norms. This points to a stabilization following the unusually elevated postings seen roughly three years ago.
Hiring activity also softened in April. After increasing in March, hires declined from 855,000 to 803,000, while separations rose from 788,000 to 805,000. As a result, net hiring (hires minus separations) totaled -2,000, marking the second net decline in the past three months.
Over a longer time horizon, hiring averaged 895,000 per month between 2017 and 2019, with separations averaging 875,000. Over the past year, however, those averages have fallen to 823,000 hires and 802,000 separations—both below pre-pandemic levels. Taken together, these trends align with broader indicators pointing to a gradually softening labor market in the restaurant and lodging sector.
Recent data have been consistent with the transition from the “Great Resignation” prevalent a few years ago to the current “Great Stay” period, which has been closer to pre-pandemic trends. For comparison, quits averaged 4.22 million for nonfarm payrolls and 787,000 for restaurants and lodging in 2022, when the labor market was historically tight and businesses struggled to find sufficient workers. Over the past 12 months, quits averaged 3.12 million and 619,000, respectively.
Even so, restaurant operators continue to report an easing in hiring challenges, particularly compared with conditions three years ago. For context, the labor market was significantly tighter in July 2022, when job openings outnumbered unemployed individuals by roughly two to one. At that point, there were just 49.7 unemployed workers per 100 job openings, with openings exceeding job seekers by more than 5.84 million.
