Research
July 02, 2026
Total restaurant industry jobs
Restaurant job growth was choppy during the first half of 2026
Eating and drinking places lost a net 32,900 jobs in June on a seasonally-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That marked a significant change in the restaurant employment narrative, as the initial readings for both April and May were revised sharply lower.
BLS now reports that eating and drinking places added just over 24,000 jobs in April and May. That was well below the combined increase of nearly 83,000 jobs that was reported in last month’s data release.
Taken together, the latest data suggest that the restaurant industry remains in a period of modest payroll expansion. However, given the significant revisions that regularly occur in both positive and negative directions, it is unwise to draw any conclusions based on short-term fluctuations in the employment data.
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the expectation is that restaurant operators will continue to balance staffing levels with business conditions. With customer traffic levels remaining uneven, operators will likely be cautious with their hiring decisions.
However, many restaurants will still boost seasonal staffing levels to meet the uptick in business from travelers and tourists. The National Restaurant Association expects restaurants to add 450,000 seasonal jobs this summer, which will provide a boost to local economies.
The recent downward revisions also negatively impacted comparisons with pre-pandemic employment levels. As of June 2026, eating and drinking place employment was only 62,000 jobs (or 0.5%) above its February 2020 level.
Fullservice segment remains 174k 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 May 2026, fullservice restaurant employment was still 174,000 jobs (or 3.3%) below pre-pandemic readings.
However, fullservice restaurants expanded payrolls at a stronger pace in recent months, after lagging behind for much of the post-pandemic expansion. The fullservice segment added a net 95,000 jobs between May 2025 and May 2026. In comparison, the three limited-service segments added combined 87,000 jobs during that same period.
Despite the slower growth in recent months, limited-service employment levels stand well above their pre-pandemic readings. As of May 2026, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 229,000 jobs (or 28%) above May 2020 levels.
Employee counts at quickservice and fast casual restaurants were 82,000 jobs (or 1.8%) above pre-pandemic levels.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so May 2026 is the most current data available.]
Restaurant job growth uneven across states
More than 6 years after the onset of the pandemic in the U.S., restaurant staffing levels remain below pre-pandemic readings in 16 states and the District of Columbia.
That group was led by Vermont and the District of Columbia, which had 8% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in the first quarter of 2026 than they did in the first quarter of 2019. Massachusetts (-6%), West Virginia (-5%) and Maryland (-5%) 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 Utah (+15%), Nevada (+15%) and Idaho (+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.
BLS now reports that eating and drinking places added just over 24,000 jobs in April and May. That was well below the combined increase of nearly 83,000 jobs that was reported in last month’s data release.
Taken together, the latest data suggest that the restaurant industry remains in a period of modest payroll expansion. However, given the significant revisions that regularly occur in both positive and negative directions, it is unwise to draw any conclusions based on short-term fluctuations in the employment data.
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the expectation is that restaurant operators will continue to balance staffing levels with business conditions. With customer traffic levels remaining uneven, operators will likely be cautious with their hiring decisions.
However, many restaurants will still boost seasonal staffing levels to meet the uptick in business from travelers and tourists. The National Restaurant Association expects restaurants to add 450,000 seasonal jobs this summer, which will provide a boost to local economies.
The recent downward revisions also negatively impacted comparisons with pre-pandemic employment levels. As of June 2026, eating and drinking place employment was only 62,000 jobs (or 0.5%) above its February 2020 level.
Fullservice segment remains 174k 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 May 2026, fullservice restaurant employment was still 174,000 jobs (or 3.3%) below pre-pandemic readings.
However, fullservice restaurants expanded payrolls at a stronger pace in recent months, after lagging behind for much of the post-pandemic expansion. The fullservice segment added a net 95,000 jobs between May 2025 and May 2026. In comparison, the three limited-service segments added combined 87,000 jobs during that same period.
Despite the slower growth in recent months, limited-service employment levels stand well above their pre-pandemic readings. As of May 2026, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 229,000 jobs (or 28%) above May 2020 levels.
Employee counts at quickservice and fast casual restaurants were 82,000 jobs (or 1.8%) above pre-pandemic levels.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so May 2026 is the most current data available.]
Restaurant job growth uneven across states
More than 6 years after the onset of the pandemic in the U.S., restaurant staffing levels remain below pre-pandemic readings in 16 states and the District of Columbia.
That group was led by Vermont and the District of Columbia, which had 8% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in the first quarter of 2026 than they did in the first quarter of 2019. Massachusetts (-6%), West Virginia (-5%) and Maryland (-5%) 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 Utah (+15%), Nevada (+15%) and Idaho (+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.