CEO Korsmo on how restaurants create jobs, build careers

Restaurant jobs are launchpads for skills, advancement and career opportunities, according to the National Restaurant Association’s new report, Made in Restaurants: Industry Careers in America. In this Q&A, President & CEO Michelle Korsmo discusses what the findings reveal about the industry’s role in building America’s workforce—and how operators can turn those insights into stronger strategies for attracting, developing, and retaining talent. 

What, in your mind, is the most significant takeaway to come from the report?  
The biggest takeaway is that restaurants put people on a path to advancement, building skills and leadership one shift at a time.  

As this report demonstrates, the people who have worked in the industry – or currently work here – see the advancement value of restaurants for themselves. Nearly half of current employees see the industry as a supportive work entry point with minimal training to start. Most importantly, 89% of employees working at a primary restaurant job see opportunities for career advancement in the industry, and 42% say they would like to operate a restaurant of their own. In an industry where 9 in 10 managers and 8 in 10 owners started at the entry level before working their way up, these findings speak to the way our industry equips people with what they need to climb.  

What do the findings tell us about the future of restaurant careers in America?    
Restaurant careers will continue to play a critical role in our nation’s workforce because of the 15.7 million people who are already working here. As 10% of our nation’s workforce, they are the industry’s greatest proof point for its value and career impact.   

As this report shows, the future of restaurant careers is being shaped by current employees who see real opportunity in the industry. According to the data, 86% of current employees say they are likely to remain in the industry until retirement. For those who go on to other industries, 82% of current employees say restaurant jobs prepare people for success in whatever jobs or careers they pursue. They carry skills that are particularly in demand in today’s landscape, including teamwork, effective communication, analytical skills, and more.  

What does the research reveal about the industry’s role in developing our workforce and why restaurants are uniquely positioned to help build skills that translate into long-term career success?  
Restaurants are an opportunity rich industry with more than 70 unique vocations and 2,000 distinct career pathways. As a work entry point for more than half of all U.S. workers, restaurants also teach skills on-the-job, in real time. While a restaurant shift is a classroom all its own, our industry’s operators are also investing in the career growth of their teams through certifications, training, and apprenticeships.   

For those who stay in our industry or go on to work in other spaces, they gain skills that are critical in today’s economy. Employees in the report point to teamwork, work ethic, customer service, and time management as the skills they gained. Those are the human skills that matter even more as technology and AI reshape how we work.  

How can restaurant operators use the report's findings to attract, develop, and retain talent?  
First, operators should let people tell our industry’s story of career value. Ninety-one percent of current employees would recommend an industry job to a friend or family member. Their experience and desire to stay and grow in restaurants is the best recruiting tool our industry has and answer many of the perceptions of people who have never worked in our industry, which are also documented in this report. I hope operators will invite their teams to share how their #MadeInRestaurants work experience has shaped their life at MadeinRestaurants.org.

Second, operators must continue to create clear pathways to advancement and growth for their teams and invest in the training and skill development that individuals need to achieve them. This will help people who are new to our industry, and those who are looking for their next career step, understand what is achievable. Most importantly, it will equip them to stay and advance into meaningful restaurant careers.

Download the Industry Careers in America report here