McDonald’s announced on Monday its intention to hire as many as 375,000 employees for US restaurants this summer.
The Chicago-based fast-food chain is ramping up hiring efforts across both company-operated and franchised locations, driven largely by significant expansion plans in the US. McDonald’s, which already has over 13,500 outlets in the country, aims to launch an additional 9,000 by 2027.
During the announcement at a restaurant near Columbus, Ohio, US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez Deremer and McDonald’s US President Joe Arlinger emphasized their commitment to this recruitment push.
“McDonald’s is creating positive ripple effects for workers, communities, and the economy,” Deremer remarked. “With an expanded workforce, businesses will be encouraged to invest and strive for growth, whether providing new opportunities or improving internal pathways for advancement.”
The company stated that new hires will be for permanent roles, though they don’t realistically expect the US workforce to surpass 1.1 million by summer’s end, considering the regular turnover that occurs in the restaurant industry.
This summer’s hiring initiative follows an announcement in 2020 when the chain sought to add 260,000 employees after reopening restaurants that had closed during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There’s a sense of optimism surrounding the recovery of US restaurants as the year progresses, despite noting that sales at comparable US locations dropped by 3.6% from January to March—marking the steepest decline since the pandemic began.
While mid and lower-income consumers have expressed concerns about inflation and economic conditions, the overall restaurant sector seems to be looking up. For instance, the National Restaurant Association reported that restaurants and bars in the US added over 46,000 jobs in March and April. Chipotle, for its part, announced plans to recruit 20,000 workers in February.
Employment figures overall remain robust. Even amidst uncertainties, American employers added 177,000 jobs in April, showing resilience in the labor market.
On the same day, McDonald’s celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Archways to Opportunity program, which has provided $240 million in tuition assistance.
Anna Maria Monteroso, who has been with McDonald’s for eight years, shared that the program will help her be the first in her family to earn a college degree. Monteroso currently holds a degree in human resources from Colorado Institute of Technology.
“Just because you work in fast food doesn’t mean your dreams end there,” Monteroso commented.
