From the 1.4 million jobs it supports to the $128.4 billion in sales it generates, Florida's restaurant industry is a powerhouse that serves as both the state's vibrant social hub and a fundamental pillar of its economy.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Florida's restaurant industry employed 1,123,400 workers, accounting for 11.8% of all private sector jobs in the state
- As of Q4 2023, the average hourly wage for restaurant workers in Florida was $15.67, up 6.2% from 2022
- Florida restaurants added 25,600 new jobs in 2023, a 2.3% growth rate over the previous year
- In 2023, Florida restaurants generated $128.4 billion in sales, a 7.2% increase from 2022
- Miami restaurants contributed $25.6 billion in sales in 2023, 20% from tourists
- Orlando's restaurant sales reached $18.9 billion in 2023, driven by theme parks
- Florida's restaurant industry contributed $45.2 billion to the state's GDP in 2023, 5.8% of total GDP
- In 2023, every $1 spent in Florida restaurants generated $2.34 in local economic activity
- Florida restaurants paid $4.8 billion in wages and benefits in 2023
- In 2023, 68% of Florida diners visited restaurants weekly, up from 62% in 2022
- Florida tourists spent average $156 per restaurant meal in 2023
- 52% of Florida consumers preferred casual dining over fast food in 2023 survey
- 2023 Florida restaurant energy costs rose 15% to average $18,400 per unit
- Average Florida restaurant rent was $42 per sq ft in prime locations in 2023
- 76% of Florida restaurants faced labor shortages in kitchen staff in 2023
Florida's restaurant industry shows strong growth in jobs, sales, and economic impact.
Consumer Trends
- In 2023, 68% of Florida diners visited restaurants weekly, up from 62% in 2022
- Florida tourists spent average $156 per restaurant meal in 2023
- 52% of Florida consumers preferred casual dining over fast food in 2023 survey
- Miami residents dined out 4.2 times weekly on average in 2023
- 41% of Floridians used delivery apps for restaurant orders monthly in 2023
- Orlando theme park visitors spent 28% of budget on restaurants in 2023
- 73% of Florida seniors (65+) ate at restaurants weekly in 2023
- Tampa Bay consumers favored seafood restaurants, 35% preference in 2023
- 29% of Florida meals were plant-based or vegetarian in restaurants in 2023
- Jacksonville diners increased alcohol spend by 12% at restaurants in 2023
- 55% of Palm Beach consumers sought farm-to-table options in 2023
- Broward County saw 47% takeout preference among millennials in 2023
- Florida families with kids dined out 3.8 times monthly in 2023
- Naples tourists averaged 5.2 restaurant visits per trip in 2023
- 62% of Florida Gen Z used social media to choose restaurants in 2023
- Key West visitors spent 22% more on Cuban cuisine restaurants in 2023
- Sarasota snowbirds increased dining frequency by 18% in winter 2023
- 38% of Floridians tried new restaurants quarterly in 2023
- Fort Myers consumers prioritized outdoor seating, 51% preference in 2023
- Panama City Beach beachgoers spent $42 avg on lunch in 2023
- Destin vacationers chose seafood 68% of meals in 2023
- 45% of St. Pete diners sought sustainable sourcing in 2023 survey
- Florida Hispanic consumers favored authentic Mexican 42% in 2023
- Lakeland locals dined Italian 29% more in 2023
Consumer Trends Interpretation
Floridians, from sun-seeking seniors to social-media-savvy Gen Z, are voting with their forks, proving that in a state built on tourism and taste, the appetite for everything from sustainable seafood to farm-fresh tables is both voracious and deliciously diverse.
Economic Impact
- Florida's restaurant industry contributed $45.2 billion to the state's GDP in 2023, 5.8% of total GDP
- In 2023, every $1 spent in Florida restaurants generated $2.34 in local economic activity
- Florida restaurants paid $4.8 billion in wages and benefits in 2023
- The multiplier effect of Florida restaurant spending supported 456,000 indirect and induced jobs in 2023
- Tourism-related restaurant spending added $28.9 billion to Florida economy in 2023
- Florida restaurants sourced $16.7 billion in local goods and services in 2023
- In Miami, restaurants drove 7.2% of metro GDP with $18.4 billion impact in 2023
- Orlando restaurant industry contributed $12.6 billion to GDP in 2023
- Tampa restaurants generated $9.8 billion economic output in 2023
- Florida restaurant taxes paid totaled $13.2 billion in 2023, including property and income taxes
- Every 10 Florida restaurant jobs supported 21 additional jobs in supply chain in 2023
- Palm Beach restaurants added $6.1 billion to county economy in 2023
- Broward County restaurant sector impact was $9.3 billion in 2023
- Florida seafood restaurants boosted fishing industry by $2.4 billion in 2023
- Naples restaurant spending supported $2.9 billion local economy in 2023
- Florida farm-to-table restaurants drove $1.8 billion ag sales in 2023
- Key West restaurants contributed 15% to island GDP, $892 million in 2023
- Sarasota-Manatee restaurants generated $4.7 billion economic impact in 2023
- Florida events and catering restaurants added $5.6 billion to economy in 2023
- Fort Lauderdale yacht club restaurants boosted marine economy by $1.2 billion in 2023
- Panama City Beach spring break restaurant spending injected $450 million in 2023
- Destin fishing charter tie-in restaurants added $1.1 billion impact in 2023
- Florida craft brewery taprooms/restaurants contributed $3.4 billion GDP share in 2023
- St. Petersburg waterfront restaurants drove $2.3 billion tourism economy in 2023
- Lakeland agribusiness restaurants supported $890 million farm output in 2023
Economic Impact Interpretation
Florida's dining scene is far more than just a meal ticket, serving as the state's robust economic engine that multiplies every dollar spent into widespread prosperity, from bustling city centers to coastal towns and fertile farmlands.
Employment
- In 2023, Florida's restaurant industry employed 1,123,400 workers, accounting for 11.8% of all private sector jobs in the state
- As of Q4 2023, the average hourly wage for restaurant workers in Florida was $15.67, up 6.2% from 2022
- Florida restaurants added 25,600 new jobs in 2023, a 2.3% growth rate over the previous year
- In Miami-Dade County, restaurants employed 145,200 people in 2022, representing 12.5% of county workforce
- Orlando's restaurant sector had 89,400 employees in 2023, with 45% in full-service establishments
- Tampa Bay area restaurants employed 112,300 workers as of 2023, up 4.1% from 2021
- Florida's foodservice industry supported 1.4 million jobs including indirect employment in 2022
- 58% of Florida restaurant employees were aged 16-24 in 2023, highest in fast-food segment at 65%
- In 2023, 320,000 Florida restaurant jobs were part-time, comprising 28.5% of total employment
- Broward County restaurants employed 98,700 workers in 2022, with 22% growth since 2019
- Florida's restaurant industry had a 3.8% unemployment rate for workers in Q1 2024, below state average of 4.2%
- Jacksonville restaurants employed 67,400 people in 2023, 15% in fine dining
- 42% of Florida restaurant managers earned over $60,000 annually in 2023
- Palm Beach County had 76,500 restaurant employees in 2023, up 5.2% YoY
- Florida limited-service restaurants employed 612,000 workers in 2023, 54% of total
- In 2022, 18% of Florida restaurant jobs were filled by immigrants, concentrated in kitchen roles
- Fort Lauderdale restaurants saw 12,300 jobs in 2023, with 30% seasonal hires
- Florida restaurant turnover rate was 112% in 2023, highest in casual dining at 130%
- Naples area restaurants employed 34,200 in 2023, 40% in upscale segments
- 27% of Florida restaurant employees held multiple jobs in 2023
- Sarasota restaurants had 28,900 workers in 2023, growing 3.5% annually
- Florida's restaurant industry trained 45,000 new workers via FRLA programs in 2023
- Key West restaurants employed 12,100 seasonally adjusted in 2023
- 65% of Florida restaurant front-of-house staff were female in 2023
- Panama City Beach added 4,500 restaurant jobs post-Hurricane Michael by 2023
- Florida full-service restaurants employed 511,400 in 2023, down 1.2% from peak
- Destin restaurants had 18,700 employees in 2023, 55% tourism-driven
- 14% of Florida restaurant jobs required no high school diploma in 2023
- St. Petersburg restaurants employed 45,600 in 2023, up 6% since 2020
- Florida restaurant apprenticeships grew to 8,200 participants in 2023
Employment Interpretation
Florida's restaurant industry, powered by a youthful and often juggling workforce, serves as the state's vibrant economic engine—churning out more jobs than a short-order cook flips pancakes, even if the wages and turnover rates suggest everyone is still waiting for the main course to arrive.
Operations
- 2023 Florida restaurant energy costs rose 15% to average $18,400 per unit
- Average Florida restaurant rent was $42 per sq ft in prime locations in 2023
- 76% of Florida restaurants faced labor shortages in kitchen staff in 2023
- Food cost percentage for Florida restaurants averaged 32.1% in 2023
- 88% of Florida restaurants adopted POS systems by end of 2023
- Miami restaurant insurance premiums increased 11% to $22,500 avg in 2023
- Orlando restaurants reported 9.2% beverage cost inflation in 2023
- 42% of Tampa restaurants used ghost kitchens in 2023
- Florida restaurant waste recycling rate reached 58% in 2023
- Average kitchen equipment replacement cost was $145,000 for Florida restaurants in 2023
- 65% of Palm Beach restaurants complied with new grease trap regs in 2023
- Broward restaurants avg labor cost 34.7% of sales in 2023
- Florida restaurants averaged 2.1 menu price hikes in 2023, total 8.4%
- Naples fine dining had 28% table turnover rate daily in 2023
- 53% of Key West restaurants used solar panels by 2023
- Sarasota restaurants reported 14% supply chain delays in 2023
- Florida avg restaurant utilities bill $3,200 monthly in 2023
- Fort Myers post-hurricane rebuilds cost avg $450k per restaurant in 2023
- 71% of Panama City Beach restaurants had hurricane prep plans updated 2023
- Destin restaurants avg 1.8 staff per table in peak season 2023
- St. Pete restaurants adopted contactless payments 92% in 2023
- Florida craft cocktail bars used 22% local spirits in 2023 ops
- Lakeland restaurants had 31% food waste reduction via apps in 2023
Operations Interpretation
Even as Florida restaurateurs valiantly chase solar panels and waste-reducing apps, they’re being squeezed like a lime in a craft cocktail by relentless costs from every direction—energy, rent, labor, and hurricanes—forcing them to raise prices on patrons who are now paying more for the privilege of turning tables faster.
Revenue
- In 2023, Florida restaurants generated $128.4 billion in sales, a 7.2% increase from 2022
- Miami restaurants contributed $25.6 billion in sales in 2023, 20% from tourists
- Orlando's restaurant sales reached $18.9 billion in 2023, driven by theme parks
- Tampa Bay restaurants recorded $14.7 billion in revenue for 2023, up 8.5%
- Florida fast-food sales were $62.3 billion in 2023, 48.5% of total industry
- Jacksonville restaurants generated $8.2 billion in sales in 2023
- Full-service Florida restaurants had $66.1 billion sales in 2023
- Palm Beach County restaurant sales hit $9.4 billion in 2023, 12% growth
- Broward County restaurants achieved $12.8 billion revenue in 2023
- Florida beachfront restaurants contributed $7.9 billion to sales in 2023
- Average annual sales per Florida restaurant was $1.47 million in 2023
- Naples-Marco Island restaurants generated $4.1 billion in 2023 sales
- Florida casual dining sales grew 9.1% to $28.4 billion in 2023
- Key West restaurant sales were $1.2 billion in 2023, 85% tourism reliant
- Sarasota restaurants recorded $3.8 billion sales in 2023, up 5.4%
- Florida fine dining segment sales reached $11.6 billion in 2023
- Fort Myers restaurants generated $5.3 billion in 2023, post-storm recovery
- 2023 saw Florida restaurants collect $8.7 billion in sales tax revenue
- Panama City Beach restaurants hit $1.9 billion sales in 2023
- Florida QSR chains like McDonald's generated $15.2 billion combined in 2023
- Destin-Fort Walton Beach restaurants sales totaled $2.7 billion in 2023
- St. Augustine restaurant sales were $1.1 billion in 2023, historic tourism boost
- Florida delivery sales for restaurants surged to $12.4 billion in 2023, 10% of total
- Lakeland-Winter Haven restaurants generated $3.2 billion sales in 2023
Revenue Interpretation
While Florida’s culinary scene may be seasoned with theme park magic and beachfront sunsets, the state’s real appetite is for a simple, billion-dollar truth: nearly half of every dollar spent is on fast food, proving that even in paradise, convenience is king.
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