Almost daily, conversations about AI are happening in the business world. Especially in an industry that focuses on people, there are concerns about the world dehumanizing with more AI incorporation. The largest arguments usually center around jobs—AI is coming for them! However, Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN) reports on a new National Restaurant Association (NRA) study that has found that employing AI has actually improved human employee recruitment, training, and retention. Rather than AI “coming” for jobs, it is growing the restaurant industry. “Between now and 2035, the restaurant industry is projected to add 150,000 jobs a year, bringing total employment to about 17.4 million at the end of the 10 years.”
From a recruitment standpoint, AI and other digital means have made it easier for potential staff members to apply for jobs, while hiring managers have an easier time of reviewing applications for the right fit. “With about 86% of restaurant candidates applying via mobile devices, often outside of business hours, QR codes, text-to-apply options, and mobile-friendly applications are making hiring easier and more accessible, the association said.” This includes back-of-house positions, which are much harder for restaurants to fill.
As an example, “The Saxton Group, a McAlister’s Deli and Jaggers franchisee, cut its average hiring time from seven days to three, recognizing that ‘the faster you connect with applicants, the more likely you are to hire them,’” writes NRN.
Once employees are hired, AI has made it easier to keep employees too—happy, hardworking employees, in fact. This is significant since “the 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry Report found 54% of operators reported difficulty filling these positions, highlighting why workforce planning remains essential for long-term stability.”
“‘Technology is playing a fundamental role in reshaping management practices, benefiting both operators and employees,’ Moutray, [vice president of research and knowledge for the National Restaurant Association] said. ‘It is important for restaurant managers to focus more time on running their restaurants, and increased automation can help free them up to do so.’ Moutray said a growing number of operators are investing in automation (37%) and AI-driven solutions (28%).
National Restaurant Consultants place a strong emphasis on employee recruitment and training, with belief that good employee morale begins at the hiring process, and employee morale directly impacts the success of a restaurant.
Richard Weil, principal and owner of National Restaurant Consultants confirms that, “Attracting and retaining quality staff to meet the needs of the operator and remembering that hiring bright, shining, and smiling faces both in the FOH and BOH is critical for near- and long-term success. Putting a smile both for customers and internal customers can be enhanced when considering the use of AI.”