Restaurant Workforce Trends

State of the Restaurant Workforce Research from BBI

The definitive breakdown on restaurant workforce trends.

This is your one stop shop for all the latest restaurant workforce research from Black Box Intelligence (BBI) right now.

Get the lowdown on:

Pay & Benefits

Employee Demographics

Turnover and Retention

Training

Where our Restaurant Workforce Trend Insights Come From

We synthesize multiple sources across the BBI ecosystem: restaurant-reported workforce benchmarks, compensation and benefits data, training/orientation practices, and sentiment/traffic outcomes—then analyze them alongside BBI’s broader Restaurant Performance Network trends.

Below, you can access our latest State of the Workforce webinar – our most definitive and in-depth look at the restaurant labor market, alongside thematic more bite size data-led articles. Each shows you what the leading brands are doing right now to stand out from their competition when it comes to attracting and retaining talent.

Dig Deeper

Explore All Our Latest Restaurant Workforce Trend Research

Three people stand behind a counter in a cafe. A man in glasses points at a burger on a plate he's holding, while two women in aprons watch. Plates with fries and sandwiches are on the counter.

Restaurant Insights & Research

State of Restaurant Workforce: Training & Orientation

A group of people sit around a conference table with laptops and gift bags, listening to a man give a presentation on Restaurant Performance Management in front of a screen in a modern office meeting room.

Restaurant Insights & Research

State of Restaurant Workforce: Base Pay

A smiling man in an apron stands outside a wooden building, holding a sign that says "HIRING." Sunlight filters through overhead, creating a warm atmosphere.

Restaurant Insights & Research

State of Restaurant Workforce: Variable Pay & Employee Benefits

Two people wearing red aprons and smiling stand behind a counter in a bakery or kitchen, preparing food with utensils and mixing bowls—a friendly team dedicated to reducing restaurant turnover.

Restaurant Insights & Research

State of Restaurant Workforce: Employee Turnover

Three people in a kitchen, two in aprons and one in a chef’s uniform, watch as onions are chopped on a cutting board. The chef gives guidance, reflecting the teamwork often seen in diverse restaurant employee demographics.

Restaurant Insights & Research

State of Restaurant Workforce: Employee Demographics

A chalkboard sign outside a restaurant reads "STAFF WANTED! NOW HIRING FLOOR AND" in large, colorful letters—inviting Gen Zs in the Workforce. Outdoor tables and chairs are visible blurred in the background.

Restaurant Insights & Research

State of Restaurant Workforce: Restaurant Staffing

Full On Demand Recording

Webinar:
State of the Restaurant Workforce

Watch the definitive breakdown of exactly what is going on with the restaurant industry workforce in 2025.

We presented aggregated findings drawn from our deep and extensive Restaurant Performance Network and our latest Annual Total Rewards Survey.

Recorded 9/23/25.

Unrivaled Restaurant Workforce Intelligence

Explore BBI Workforce Intelligence Product Suite

Workforce Intelligence

Turnover, compensation, and benefits. Definitive benchmarks for workforce management.

Workforce Intelligence

Restaurant Performance Network

Data network powering our platform. The “gold standard” of restaurant performance benchmarking.

Restaurant Network

Total Rewards Survey

Get our latest Total Rewards Survey featuring aggregated submissions from 150+ brands.

Total Rewards Survey

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