Research
December 06, 2024
Total restaurant industry jobs
Restaurant job growth was uneven in recent months, but the overall trendline remains positive.
Eating and drinking places* added a net 28,900 jobs in November on a seasonally-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That was a solid improvement from the modest gain of 3,000 jobs in October, and continued the recent pattern of uneven month-to-month readings.
Although job growth in 2024 has been defined by starts and stops, the trendline remains generally positive. Eating and drinking places are on pace to add more than 150,000 jobs in 2024, which is about half of the jobs added during 2023.
Although restaurant job growth slowed in 2024, the industry continues to expand the gap above pre-pandemic staffing levels. As of November 2024, eating and drinking places were more than 154,000 jobs (or 1.3%) above their February 2020 employment peak.
Fullservice segment still down 228k jobs
While the overall restaurant industry surpassed pre-pandemic employment levels, significant differences still exist by segment.
The fullservice segment experienced the most job losses during the initial months of the pandemic – and it still has the longest path to recovery. As of October 2024, fullservice restaurant employment levels were 228,000 jobs (or 4%) below pre-pandemic readings in February 2020.
Employment counts in the cafeterias/grill buffets/buffets segment (-34%) also remained below their February 2020 levels.
Job losses in the limited-service segments were somewhat less severe during the initial months of the pandemic, as these operations were more likely to retain staff to support their existing off-premises business. As of October 2024, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 133,000 jobs (or 17%) above February 2020 readings.
Staffing levels in the quickservice and fast casual segments were 162,000 jobs (or 4%) above pre-pandemic levels. Headcounts at bars and taverns were 36,000 jobs (or 8%) above the pre-pandemic peak.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so October is the most current data available.]
Restaurant job growth varies across the states
Restaurant employment trended higher in recent months, but the extent of the industry’s workforce recovery varies significantly by state. As of October 2024, 20 states and the District of Columbia had fewer eating and drinking place jobs than they did in October 2019.
This group was led by Louisiana and North Dakota, which both had 8% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in October 2024 than they did in October 2019. Maryland (-7%), West Virginia (-6%), Oregon (-5%), Illinois (-5%), Maine (-5%) and the District of Columbia (-5%) and were also well below their pre-pandemic restaurant employment levels.
As of October 2024, eating and drinking place employment levels in 30 states were at or above their comparable pre-pandemic readings in October 2019. This group was led by Nevada (+14%), Oklahoma (+12%), Utah (+12%) and Montana (+10%).
View the latest employment data for every state.
[Note that the state-level analysis uses October 2019 as the pre-pandemic comparison instead of February 2020, because seasonally-adjusted employment figures are not available for every state.]
*Eating and drinking places are the primary component of the total restaurant and foodservice industry, providing jobs for roughly 80% of the total restaurant and foodservice workforce of 15.5 million.
Track more economic indicators and read more analysis and commentary from the Association's economists.
Although job growth in 2024 has been defined by starts and stops, the trendline remains generally positive. Eating and drinking places are on pace to add more than 150,000 jobs in 2024, which is about half of the jobs added during 2023.
Although restaurant job growth slowed in 2024, the industry continues to expand the gap above pre-pandemic staffing levels. As of November 2024, eating and drinking places were more than 154,000 jobs (or 1.3%) above their February 2020 employment peak.
Fullservice segment still down 228k jobs
While the overall restaurant industry surpassed pre-pandemic employment levels, significant differences still exist by segment.
The fullservice segment experienced the most job losses during the initial months of the pandemic – and it still has the longest path to recovery. As of October 2024, fullservice restaurant employment levels were 228,000 jobs (or 4%) below pre-pandemic readings in February 2020.
Employment counts in the cafeterias/grill buffets/buffets segment (-34%) also remained below their February 2020 levels.
Job losses in the limited-service segments were somewhat less severe during the initial months of the pandemic, as these operations were more likely to retain staff to support their existing off-premises business. As of October 2024, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 133,000 jobs (or 17%) above February 2020 readings.
Staffing levels in the quickservice and fast casual segments were 162,000 jobs (or 4%) above pre-pandemic levels. Headcounts at bars and taverns were 36,000 jobs (or 8%) above the pre-pandemic peak.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so October is the most current data available.]
Restaurant job growth varies across the states
Restaurant employment trended higher in recent months, but the extent of the industry’s workforce recovery varies significantly by state. As of October 2024, 20 states and the District of Columbia had fewer eating and drinking place jobs than they did in October 2019.
This group was led by Louisiana and North Dakota, which both had 8% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in October 2024 than they did in October 2019. Maryland (-7%), West Virginia (-6%), Oregon (-5%), Illinois (-5%), Maine (-5%) and the District of Columbia (-5%) and were also well below their pre-pandemic restaurant employment levels.
As of October 2024, eating and drinking place employment levels in 30 states were at or above their comparable pre-pandemic readings in October 2019. This group was led by Nevada (+14%), Oklahoma (+12%), Utah (+12%) and Montana (+10%).
View the latest employment data for every state.
[Note that the state-level analysis uses October 2019 as the pre-pandemic comparison instead of February 2020, because seasonally-adjusted employment figures are not available for every state.]
*Eating and drinking places are the primary component of the total restaurant and foodservice industry, providing jobs for roughly 80% of the total restaurant and foodservice workforce of 15.5 million.
Track more economic indicators and read more analysis and commentary from the Association's economists.