Research
July 03, 2025
Total restaurant industry jobs
Restaurant job growth slowed in recent months
Restaurant operators expanded payrolls for the fourth consecutive month in June, although growth remains modest overall.
Eating and drinking places* added a net 6,500 jobs in June on a seasonally-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That represented the third consecutive month of decelerating growth, after April and May figures were revised significantly lower.
Preliminary readings showed the restaurant industry adding more than 53,000 jobs in April and May. The latest revisions nearly cut that number in half, with the 2-month gain dropping to 27,400 jobs.
These employment figures represent the net difference between hires and separations each month. Although hiring activity remained healthy in recent months, there was an uptick in the number of employees leaving their jobs. That appears to be the primary reason for the slowdown in net job growth.
Overall, the restaurant labor market remains in expansion mode, albeit at a somewhat slower pace than previously reported. The 72,000 restaurant jobs added during the last four months keeps the industry on pace to post positive growth in 2025.
Even with the choppy employment readings during the first half of 2025, the size of the restaurant workforce remained above pre-pandemic levels. As of June 2025, eating and drinking place employment was nearly 86,000 jobs (or 0.7%) above its February 2020 levels.
Fullservice segment remains 226k jobs below pre-pandemic levels
Within the restaurant industry, the limited-service segments continue to lead the way in terms of job growth.
The coffee and snack segment has led the way throughout the recovery from pandemic-induced job losses. As of May 2025, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 172,000 jobs (or 21%) above February 2020 readings.
Employee counts at quickservice and fast casual restaurants were 115,000 jobs (or 2.5%) above pre-pandemic levels.
In contrast, fullservice restaurant employment levels remained 226,000 jobs (or 4%) below pre-pandemic readings, as of May 2025.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so May 2025 is the most current data available.]
Restaurant job growth uneven across states
More than 5 years after the onset of the pandemic in the U.S., restaurant staffing levels remain below pre-pandemic readings in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
This group was led by West Virginia, which had more than 6% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in April 2025 than it did in April 2019. Massachusetts (-6%), Maryland (-5%), Vermont (-4%) and New Mexico (-4%) were also well below their pre-pandemic restaurant employment levels.
In contrast, restaurant employment in several of the mountain states has climbed well beyond pre-pandemic levels. This group is led by Idaho (+16%), Nevada (+14%), Utah (+14%) and Arizona (+11%).
[Note that the state-level analysis uses April 2019 as the pre-pandemic comparison instead of February 2020, because seasonally-adjusted employment figures are not available for every state.]
View the latest employment data 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 more than 15.7 million.
Track more economic indicators and read more analysis and commentary from the Association's economists.
Eating and drinking places* added a net 6,500 jobs in June on a seasonally-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That represented the third consecutive month of decelerating growth, after April and May figures were revised significantly lower.
Preliminary readings showed the restaurant industry adding more than 53,000 jobs in April and May. The latest revisions nearly cut that number in half, with the 2-month gain dropping to 27,400 jobs.
These employment figures represent the net difference between hires and separations each month. Although hiring activity remained healthy in recent months, there was an uptick in the number of employees leaving their jobs. That appears to be the primary reason for the slowdown in net job growth.
Overall, the restaurant labor market remains in expansion mode, albeit at a somewhat slower pace than previously reported. The 72,000 restaurant jobs added during the last four months keeps the industry on pace to post positive growth in 2025.
Even with the choppy employment readings during the first half of 2025, the size of the restaurant workforce remained above pre-pandemic levels. As of June 2025, eating and drinking place employment was nearly 86,000 jobs (or 0.7%) above its February 2020 levels.
Fullservice segment remains 226k jobs below pre-pandemic levels
Within the restaurant industry, the limited-service segments continue to lead the way in terms of job growth.
The coffee and snack segment has led the way throughout the recovery from pandemic-induced job losses. As of May 2025, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 172,000 jobs (or 21%) above February 2020 readings.
Employee counts at quickservice and fast casual restaurants were 115,000 jobs (or 2.5%) above pre-pandemic levels.
In contrast, fullservice restaurant employment levels remained 226,000 jobs (or 4%) below pre-pandemic readings, as of May 2025.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so May 2025 is the most current data available.]
Restaurant job growth uneven across states
More than 5 years after the onset of the pandemic in the U.S., restaurant staffing levels remain below pre-pandemic readings in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
This group was led by West Virginia, which had more than 6% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in April 2025 than it did in April 2019. Massachusetts (-6%), Maryland (-5%), Vermont (-4%) and New Mexico (-4%) were also well below their pre-pandemic restaurant employment levels.
In contrast, restaurant employment in several of the mountain states has climbed well beyond pre-pandemic levels. This group is led by Idaho (+16%), Nevada (+14%), Utah (+14%) and Arizona (+11%).
[Note that the state-level analysis uses April 2019 as the pre-pandemic comparison instead of February 2020, because seasonally-adjusted employment figures are not available for every state.]
View the latest employment data 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 more than 15.7 million.
Track more economic indicators and read more analysis and commentary from the Association's economists.