In the midst of what has seemed like only news of downturns in the restaurant industry, Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN) recently released an article on the current upward trend: hiring. “Consumers may be dining out less often at restaurants but that isn’t stopping operators from hiring. Restaurants and bars added 48,000 jobs in May, according to new data on Friday from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,” they wrote, making the restaurant industry one of the top job creators in the country currently.
Though the numbers are low given the larger historical picture of the industry, in light of the many challenges of the last several years, this growth is especially positive news. “With last month’s increase, restaurants and bars have created another 94,600 jobs so far this year, slower than the traditional rate of hiring but far more than in recent years. Restaurants and bars have now created more jobs so far this year than they did in all of 2025, according to federal data. The industry added just 78,000 jobs all of last year.”
Stock markets saw holdings drop last Friday after economists released employment reports: “The overall economy added 172,000 jobs in May and the unemployment rate was 4.3%.” But the results indicate that markets are not heading for recession levels as was the concern earlier this year.
Restaurants hiring demonstrates a good faith in the economy and in the general sentiment that consumers are returning to “normal life”—heading out into their communities, dining at restaurants, and seeking out in-person experiences again. Though guests are spending less at restaurants currently, they are still prioritizing dining-out experiences and this requires a healthy, well-trained staff.
Richard Weil, owner and principal at National Restaurant Consultants notes, “Now is the time to have restaurant operators focused on the service element that can create a distinguishable point that encourages guests to return. Service can truly be this reason. Communicating this to staff and training to emphasize that smiles and general customer caring go a long way to meet and exceed guests’ expectations.”