Research
August 01, 2025
Total restaurant industry jobs
Restaurant job growth stalled during the last two months
Job growth in the restaurant industry screeched to a halt during the last two months, as a rise in people leaving their jobs offset hiring activity.
Eating and drinking place employment levels were essentially flat in June (+400) and July (-300), according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That followed a 3-month period in which the industry added nearly 68,000 jobs.
These employment figures represent the net difference between hires and separations each month. Although hiring remained relatively steady in recent months, there was a notable increase in the number of employees quitting their jobs. This narrowing between hires and separations caused overall job growth to stall.
Although job growth was uneven in recent months, the size of the restaurant workforce remains above pre-pandemic levels. As of July 2025, eating and drinking place employment was nearly 82,000 jobs (or 0.7%) above its February 2020 levels.
Fullservice segment remains 228k 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 June 2025, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 173,000 jobs (or 21%) above February 2020 readings.
Employee counts at quickservice and fast casual restaurants were 113,000 jobs (or 2.5%) above pre-pandemic levels.
In contrast, fullservice restaurant employment levels remained 228,000 jobs (or 4%) below pre-pandemic readings, as of June 2025.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so June 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 17 states and the District of Columbia.
This group was led by Massachusetts, West Virginia and Maryland, which had about 5% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in the second quarter of 2025 than they did in the second quarter of 2019. Illinois (-3%), California (-3%), Vermont (-3%) and Michigan (-3%) 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 (+17%), Utah (+15%), South Dakota (+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 place employment levels were essentially flat in June (+400) and July (-300), according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That followed a 3-month period in which the industry added nearly 68,000 jobs.
These employment figures represent the net difference between hires and separations each month. Although hiring remained relatively steady in recent months, there was a notable increase in the number of employees quitting their jobs. This narrowing between hires and separations caused overall job growth to stall.
Although job growth was uneven in recent months, the size of the restaurant workforce remains above pre-pandemic levels. As of July 2025, eating and drinking place employment was nearly 82,000 jobs (or 0.7%) above its February 2020 levels.
Fullservice segment remains 228k 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 June 2025, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – was 173,000 jobs (or 21%) above February 2020 readings.
Employee counts at quickservice and fast casual restaurants were 113,000 jobs (or 2.5%) above pre-pandemic levels.
In contrast, fullservice restaurant employment levels remained 228,000 jobs (or 4%) below pre-pandemic readings, as of June 2025.
[Note that the segment-level employment figures are lagged by one month, so June 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 17 states and the District of Columbia.
This group was led by Massachusetts, West Virginia and Maryland, which had about 5% fewer eating and drinking place jobs in the second quarter of 2025 than they did in the second quarter of 2019. Illinois (-3%), California (-3%), Vermont (-3%) and Michigan (-3%) 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 (+17%), Utah (+15%), South Dakota (+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.