Inflation, labor shortages, and rising costs are squeezing foodservice hiring, with 2025 job projections hitting a 15-year low. Operators are turning to tech and retention strategies to weather the storm.
As automation and cost-cutting drive sweeping F&B layoffs, experts urge job seekers to sharpen their networking, recruiter outreach, and LinkedIn tactics. Even execs must rethink how they navigate today’s volatile hiring landscape.
Minimum wage hikes took effect starting today across the U.S., leaving restaurants and grocers bracing for ripple effects. Business leaders warn of closures, while advocates say fair pay is overdue in a shifting labor landscape.
Stricter immigration policies are set to worsen labor shortages in the restaurant industry, driving wages up by as much as $3 per hour and putting financial pressure on operators, according to industry data. Many mid-tier and independent establishments could face closures as a result.
