The Tale the Numbers Tell: Limited Service Leads Job Growth

2 Min Read By MRM Staff

As restaurants picked up momentum for the holiday season and new year, they reported the strongest monthly employment increase in six months, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for September. Employment was nearly 144,000 jobs or about 1.2 percent above the February 2020 level, pushing overall workforce beyond pre-pandemic benchmarks.

Much of the recent and post-pandemic job growth has been concentrated in limited-service segments. As of August 2025, employment at snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars, a segment that includes coffee and donut shops, was 184,000 jobs (23 percent) above February 2020 levels. Similarly, QSRs and fast casuals were up by 107,000 jobs (2.4 percent). In contrast, the full-service segment continues to lag, remaining 212,000 jobs (3.7 percent) below its pre-pandemic employment numbers.

Pace Setting ReboundDr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist at the National Restaurant Association, noted that despite progress, full-service…