In a sign that the restaurant industry is regaining its footing post-pandemic and adapting to the evolving demands of the modern diner, the U.S. restaurant workforce reached an all-time high in May 2025, according to the latest data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The food services and drinking places sector added 30,200 jobs in May, pushing the total industry employment to 12.4 million, the highest ever recorded. This surpasses pre-COVID employment levels and marks a significant rebound from the pandemic-induced lows of 2020, when the sector had shed nearly 6 million jobs within weeks.
What’s Driving the Hiring Surge?
Several factors are contributing to this steady hiring wave. A key driver is the resurgence of dine-in traffic, buoyed by warmer weather, a packed calendar of summer events, and improved consumer confidence. Additionally, expansion of restaurant formats—from experiential fine dining to hybrid quick-service models—has increased the demand for skilled and semi-skilled talent across kitchens, front-of-house operations, and delivery logistics.
Experts also point to a broader transformation in employer-employee dynamics, with restaurants offering better wages, benefits, and work-life balance in response to the labor challenges of recent years. According to a recent National Restaurant Association (NRA) survey, 62% of restaurant operators reported raising wages in the last six months, while 44% are offering more flexible scheduling, and 28% are investing in training and upskilling.
Caution Amid Optimism
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. While employment numbers are promising, labor retention remains a challenge. A large portion of the workforce, particularly in hourly roles, still faces burnout, unpredictable shifts, and career stagnation. Many restaurants are also contending with rising labor costs, which are impacting already thin margins.
In parallel, automation and restaurant tech adoption are seeing renewed interest. With workforce numbers stabilizing, brands are now shifting their attention towards optimizing operations through POS integrations, AI-based forecasting, and workforce management platforms to reduce human dependency on repetitive tasks.
What This Means
With over 70% of restaurant operators expecting staffing levels to increase or remain consistent in the next quarter, this May milestone sets a strong tone for the months ahead. It also underscores the importance of workforce-centric strategies as a core growth lever.
For industry leaders and stakeholders, the numbers present both an opportunity and a call to action—to future-proof employment models, invest in meaningful roles, and build cultures that can withstand the next curveball.
As the industry evolves from recovery to reinvention, May 2025 may well be remembered as the month when the restaurant workforce didn’t just bounce back, but stood tall.
