The economic impact of the restaurant industry sales is projected to total $863 billion in 2019 and equal 4 per cent of the U.S. gross domestic product. The restaurant industry is projected to employ 15.3 million people in 2019 about 1 in 10 working Americans. It is expected to add 1.6 million jobs over the next decade with employment reaching 16.9 million by 2029. More than 9 in 10 restaurants have fewer than 50 employees. More than 7 in 10 restaurants are single-unit operations. Sales per full-time-equivalent employee at eating and drinking places in 2018 were $82,000.
Restaurants are the top employers of teenagers in the economy, 1 in 3 employed teens work in the industry. The US restaurant industry has given the opportunity to nearly 6 in 10 adults that have worked in the industry at some point during their lives. 1 in 3 Americans got their first job experience in a restaurant. 9 in 10 restaurant managers started in entry-level positions. Restaurants employ more women managers than any other industry and employ more minority managers. And 8 in 10 restaurant owners say their first job in the restaurant industry was an entry-level position.
Two-thirds of consumers say their favourite restaurant foods provide flavours they can’t easily duplicate at home. 9 in 10 consumers enjoy going to restaurants. 3 in 4 consumers say dining out with family and friends is a better use of their leisure time than cooking and cleaning up. And 4 in 10 say restaurants are an essential part of their lifestyle.
