Restaurant Workers Report Strong Career Prospects

The National Restaurant Association has published new research showing that 89% of current restaurant employees in their primary industry job see opportunities for career advancement, while 96% are satisfied with their work experience. Its Made in Restaurants: Industry Careers in America report surveyed current and former restaurant workers alongside adults who have never worked in the sector. Among current employees, 86% said they are likely to remain in restaurant and foodservice work until retirement, and 91% would recommend a restaurant job to a friend or family member. The findings present restaurant work as a practical route to skills, advancement, management and, for some workers, ownership.

Experience Shapes Career Views

The report found a clear difference between views held by people with restaurant experience and those without it. While 86% of current restaurant employees said the industry offers good long-term career opportunities, 54% of adults who had never worked in restaurants agreed. Ninety percent of current employees called restaurant work a good job, compared with 65% of people without industry experience.

People without restaurant experience were also more likely to identify schedules, compensation and respectful treatment as workplace challenges. Fifty-three percent cited schedules as a concern, compared with 29% of current employees, while 50% cited compensation, compared with 28% of current employees.

“As the report shows, those who have worked in the industry see restaurants as places where they gain transferable skills and can build a career. If those pathways are not widely recognized, fewer people may take advantage of industry opportunities that can contribute to their upward mobility and the growth of overall economy.”

Paths to Advancement

Among current restaurant employees whose primary job is in the industry, 48% said they see advancement opportunities with their current employer. Another 10% saw opportunity with another industry employer, while 42% saw opportunities in both places. The research also found that 42% of these workers would like to own or operate a restaurant someday.

What Employees Think.

Restaurant workers identified teamwork, work ethic, customer service, time management, adaptability, communication, leadership and problem-solving as skills developed on the job. Eighty-two percent of current employees said restaurant jobs prepare people for success in whatever jobs or careers they pursue.

“The restaurant industry is one of America's most accessible and practical workforce development engines. Every day, restaurants give people the chance to develop the real-world skills employers value - while creating a path to management, leadership and, for many, ownership. These findings reinforce why investing in restaurant employees is an investment in the future of communities and the broader economy.”

Career Perceptions Quote.

Survey Scope and Access

The National Restaurant Association surveyed 1,251 current restaurant employees working either a primary or secondary industry job, 251 former restaurant employees who had worked in the industry within the previous five years, and 972 adults who had never worked in restaurant and foodservice.

The report is supported by JazzHR and is available to download. For job seekers considering hospitality work, the findings point to a sector where current employees report satisfaction, transferable skills and room to progress.