Restaurants Brace for Busy, Promising Season With Nearly 500,000 New Hires
Restaurants are places where many teens are entering the workforce in droves.
The restaurant industry is booming as a go-to entry point for teens and young adults breaking into the workforce, contributing to the addition of nearly half a million summer jobs across the country.
The National Restaurant Association’s latest summer employment forecast predicts restaurants will hire 490,000 workers this season. Those numbers are up from last summer, when eating and drinking places added 459,000 seasonal jobs. That figure is, however, a bit lower as compared to a late May update in which the association predicted ~525,000 seasonal summer jobs in the industry.
“Restaurant jobs teach communication, adaptability, attention to detail, and teamwork. These skills that set employees up for success, whether they stay in the restaurant industry or take these lessons into other professions,” said Michelle Korsmo, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. She added, “With 6.2 million teens in the labor force this April, the highest level in over 15 years, restaurants are poised to benefit from a strong pipeline of talent heading into the summer season.”
Restaurants remain the top source of employment for teenagers, employing 1.9 million workers aged 16 to 19, roughly one-third of all employed teens. In April, the teen labor force expanded to over 6.2 million.
The restaurant workforce is expected to surpass 7 million during the peak summer months as more students become available. However, the early entry of many teens into the job market has likely given some restaurants a head start on seasonal hiring.
Restaurants are planning to hire 525k seasonal workers this summer!
The restaurant industry provides essential skills in customer service, teamwork, and communication that are valuable in any profession.
Learn more about the industry's summer hiring: https://t.co/4A10DEXROV pic.twitter.com/NprKvLxXPs— National Restaurant Association (@WeRRestaurants) May 29, 2024
Additionally, restaurants are also seeking more experienced workers this summer. These businesses may benefit from a growing number of older adults returning to the workforce. In April 2025, 11.7 million Americans aged 65 and older were active in the labor force, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from 10.4 million in April 2019 and the highest April figure on record.
While this age group currently accounts for just 3% of the restaurant workforce, their presence is expected to grow. By 2033, the BLS projects the number of working adults 65 and older will climb to 14.8 million, an increase of more than 3 million from today.
Where is The Highest Percentage of Seasonal Summer Jobs in Restaurants?
In Northeastern states like Maine, Alaska, Delaware, and Rhode Island, summer restaurant hires are projected to see the highest percentage growth in employment. Nationally, restaurants continue to rank as the second-largest provider of seasonal jobs, trailing only the construction industry, according to the industry report.
Per the National Restaurant Association report, states projected to register the largest proportional employment increase during the 2025 summer season are Maine (32%), Alaska (22%), Delaware (17%), Rhode Island (17%), New Hampshire (13%), New Jersey (12%) and Massachusetts (12%). States projected to add the most eating and drinking establishment jobs during the 2025 summer season are New York (48,100), California (38,300), New Jersey (33,300), Massachusetts (29,700), Texas (28,800), Illinois (22,900), Michigan (22,500), and Ohio (21,000).
Due to the fact that their busiest seasons for travel and tourism are not in the summer months, Florida (-10,400), Arizona (-2,700) and Louisiana (-900) are projected to register declines in eating and drinking establishment employment during the 2025 summer season.
