Research
April 03, 2026
Total restaurant industry jobs
Restaurants bounced back with a gain of nearly 22K jobs in March
Restaurant job growth was choppy in recent months, as operators adjusted staffing levels in response to changing business conditions.
Eating and drinking places added a net 21,500 jobs in March on a seasonally-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That was a solid rebound from February’s loss of 26,200 jobs – the largest monthly decline since February 2025 (-38,200).
While the March employment increase didn’t restore all of the jobs lost in February, the rapid bounce-back suggests that a good portion of February’s losses were weather-related. The reference period for the BLS survey is the pay period that includes the 12th of each month, so it’s likely that the widespread winter storms in late-January had some spillover effects into February.
Looking beyond the recent choppiness, the restaurant labor market remains in expansion mode, albeit at a somewhat slower pace. Eating and drinking places added a net 18,500 jobs during the first quarter of 2026, which was down from average quarterly gains of more than 60,000 jobs during the second half of last year.
Despite the slowdown, it signals a continued willingness among many restaurant operators to boost staffing levels, while at the same time remaining nimble with the ability to adjust to a dynamic business environment.
That will likely be the gameplan in the months ahead, as the outlook for consumers and the economy remains clouded with uncertainty.
Although job growth slowed in recent months, restaurant staffing levels continue to climb further above pre-pandemic readings. As of March 2026, eating and drinking places were 76,800 jobs (or 0.6%) above their February 2020 employment peak.
Fullservice segment remains more than 200k jobs below pre-pandemic levels
The fullservice segment lost nearly 3.7 million jobs during the first two months of the pandemic, and it has yet to fully recover. As of February 2026, fullservice restaurant employment was still 207,000 jobs (or 3.7%) below pre-pandemic readings.
However, fullservice restaurants expanded staffing levels at a solid pace in recent months, after lagging behind for much of the post-pandemic expansion. The fullservice segment added a net 86,000 jobs between February 2025 and February 2026. In comparison, the three limited-service segments added combined 90,000 jobs during that same period.
As of February 2026, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 201,000 jobs (or 25%) above February 2020 readings.
Employee counts at quickservice and fast casual restaurants were 80,000 jobs (or 1.8%) above pre-pandemic levels.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so February 2026 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 18 states and the District of Columbia.
This group was led by West Virginia, which had nearly 6% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in the fourth quarter of 2025 than it did in the fourth quarter of 2019. Maine (-5%), New Mexico (-5%), Massachusetts (-4%) and Illinois (-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 (+20%), Utah (+14%) and Nevada (+13%).
[Note that the state-level analysis uses 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.
Note: 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 21,500 jobs in March on a seasonally-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That was a solid rebound from February’s loss of 26,200 jobs – the largest monthly decline since February 2025 (-38,200).
While the March employment increase didn’t restore all of the jobs lost in February, the rapid bounce-back suggests that a good portion of February’s losses were weather-related. The reference period for the BLS survey is the pay period that includes the 12th of each month, so it’s likely that the widespread winter storms in late-January had some spillover effects into February.
Looking beyond the recent choppiness, the restaurant labor market remains in expansion mode, albeit at a somewhat slower pace. Eating and drinking places added a net 18,500 jobs during the first quarter of 2026, which was down from average quarterly gains of more than 60,000 jobs during the second half of last year.
Despite the slowdown, it signals a continued willingness among many restaurant operators to boost staffing levels, while at the same time remaining nimble with the ability to adjust to a dynamic business environment.
That will likely be the gameplan in the months ahead, as the outlook for consumers and the economy remains clouded with uncertainty.
Although job growth slowed in recent months, restaurant staffing levels continue to climb further above pre-pandemic readings. As of March 2026, eating and drinking places were 76,800 jobs (or 0.6%) above their February 2020 employment peak.
Fullservice segment remains more than 200k jobs below pre-pandemic levels
The fullservice segment lost nearly 3.7 million jobs during the first two months of the pandemic, and it has yet to fully recover. As of February 2026, fullservice restaurant employment was still 207,000 jobs (or 3.7%) below pre-pandemic readings.
However, fullservice restaurants expanded staffing levels at a solid pace in recent months, after lagging behind for much of the post-pandemic expansion. The fullservice segment added a net 86,000 jobs between February 2025 and February 2026. In comparison, the three limited-service segments added combined 90,000 jobs during that same period.
As of February 2026, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 201,000 jobs (or 25%) above February 2020 readings.
Employee counts at quickservice and fast casual restaurants were 80,000 jobs (or 1.8%) above pre-pandemic levels.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so February 2026 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 18 states and the District of Columbia.
This group was led by West Virginia, which had nearly 6% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in the fourth quarter of 2025 than it did in the fourth quarter of 2019. Maine (-5%), New Mexico (-5%), Massachusetts (-4%) and Illinois (-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 (+20%), Utah (+14%) and Nevada (+13%).
[Note that the state-level analysis uses 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.
Note: 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.