GITNUXREPORT 2025

Hr In The Fast Food Industry Statistics

Fast food worker turnover is high due to low wages, stress, and poor benefits.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

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Nearly 60% of fast food employees are under 25 years old.

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The gender employment split in fast food restaurants is roughly 60% female to 40% male.

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The median age of fast food employees is around 24 years.

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Approximately 60% of fast food employees are women.

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About 15% of fast food workers have earned a college degree, which is higher than the industry average.

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Millennials comprise approximately 45% of the fast food workforce.

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The share of bilingual employees in fast food is nearly 50%, aiding customer service.

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Nearly 35% of fast food employees are from minority backgrounds.

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The average turnover rate for fast food restaurant employees is approximately 150%, compared to 60% for all industries.

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Approximately 70% of fast food restaurant managers have reported difficulty in retaining staff, citing low wages as a primary reason.

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Fast food industry employee turnover rate is approximately three times higher than the average for all sectors.

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The share of fast food workers who plan to leave within the next year is estimated at 40%.

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The average tenure of a fast food employee is roughly 6 months.

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More than 75% of fast food restaurants experience high employee turnover annually.

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About 45% of fast food restaurant employees work part-time, which is significantly higher than the overall employment average.

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Approximately 55% of fast food employees receive some form of informal on-the-job training.

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Around 22% of fast food workers are employed through temporary staffing agencies.

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Less than 10% of fast food employees hold managerial or supervisory positions.

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Fast food industry employees are 55% more likely to work night shifts compared to other retail sectors.

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The traditional fast food employee works an average of 25 hours per week.

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The percentage of part-time to full-time staff in fast food chains typically stands at 3:1.

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Fast food industry boasts roughly 4 million employees nationwide.

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Approximately 65% of fast food employees work on weekends.

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The proportion of fast food restaurants employing digital ordering kiosks has grown to 35% in the last 3 years.

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Nearly 80% of fast food establishments have reported difficulty attracting qualified staff in recent years.

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Fast food workers earning minimum wage make up approximately 50% of the workforce.

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The proportion of fast food restaurants with digital training modules for staff is around 25%.

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The average hourly wage for fast food workers in the U.S. is around $11.50, below the national average for all industries.

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Only 25% of fast food restaurant employees feel satisfied with their wages, according to recent surveys.

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The proportion of fast food employees with access to benefits like health insurance is less than 20%, significantly lower than other sectors.

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Nearly 15% of fast food workers have no health insurance coverage.

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Only 20% of fast food workers report being offered paid sick leave.

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The average wage increase for fast food workers over the past five years is less than 3% annually.

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Only about 10% of fast food workers currently participate in company-sponsored retirement plans.

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About 25% of fast food employees work more than 35 hours per week, qualifying them for benefits in some territories.

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The adoption rate of employee wellness programs in fast food has increased to 30% over the past two years.

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85% of fast food restaurants report high pressure to meet sales targets, impacting employee stress levels.

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Over 50% of fast food workers report experiencing physical fatigue or injury in the past year, often due to long shifts and fast-paced environment.

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Nearly 40% of fast food employees report workload as a significant reason for job dissatisfaction.

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The rate of absenteeism in fast food restaurants is approximately 8%, higher than the average for service industries.

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About 30% of fast food workers report experiencing verbal abuse from customers at least monthly.

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Approximately 50% of fast food restaurants have implemented employee recognition programs to improve morale.

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Only 12% of fast food employees feel that their workplace adequately supports mental health.

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Fast food workers are 40% more likely to experience job-related stress compared to other retail workers.

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Nearly 70% of fast food managers have reported high stress levels affecting their health.

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The likelihood of male fast food employees experiencing workplace harassment is 30% lower than for females.

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Employee engagement levels in fast food are about 10% lower than in full-service restaurants.

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The prevalence of part-time fast food jobs allows for flexible scheduling but often results in inconsistent income.

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The average number of customer complaints per fast food restaurant per month is approximately 12.

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Over 60% of fast food employees have reported experiencing low morale during peak seasons.

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Employee absenteeism costs fast food restaurants an estimated $1.2 billion annually.

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Key Highlights

  • The average turnover rate for fast food restaurant employees is approximately 150%, compared to 60% for all industries.
  • Approximately 70% of fast food restaurant managers have reported difficulty in retaining staff, citing low wages as a primary reason.
  • Nearly 60% of fast food employees are under 25 years old.
  • The average hourly wage for fast food workers in the U.S. is around $11.50, below the national average for all industries.
  • About 45% of fast food restaurant employees work part-time, which is significantly higher than the overall employment average.
  • 85% of fast food restaurants report high pressure to meet sales targets, impacting employee stress levels.
  • Only 25% of fast food restaurant employees feel satisfied with their wages, according to recent surveys.
  • Fast food industry employee turnover rate is approximately three times higher than the average for all sectors.
  • The proportion of fast food employees with access to benefits like health insurance is less than 20%, significantly lower than other sectors.
  • Over 50% of fast food workers report experiencing physical fatigue or injury in the past year, often due to long shifts and fast-paced environment.
  • The share of fast food workers who plan to leave within the next year is estimated at 40%.
  • Approximately 55% of fast food employees receive some form of informal on-the-job training.
  • The gender employment split in fast food restaurants is roughly 60% female to 40% male.

With a staggering 150% turnover rate and almost 70% of young workers under 25, the fast food industry faces a critical HR challenge that’s reshaping workforce stability and employee wellbeing.

Employee Demographics and Diversity

  • Nearly 60% of fast food employees are under 25 years old.
  • The gender employment split in fast food restaurants is roughly 60% female to 40% male.
  • The median age of fast food employees is around 24 years.
  • Approximately 60% of fast food employees are women.
  • About 15% of fast food workers have earned a college degree, which is higher than the industry average.
  • Millennials comprise approximately 45% of the fast food workforce.
  • The share of bilingual employees in fast food is nearly 50%, aiding customer service.
  • Nearly 35% of fast food employees are from minority backgrounds.

Employee Demographics and Diversity Interpretation

With nearly half of its workforce under 25, predominantly female and bilingual, the fast food industry reveals itself as a youthful, diverse, and surprisingly educated sector—a quick-service reflection of modern society's melting pot, where nimble agility is rooted in youthful dynamism and cultural versatility.

Employee Turnover and Retention

  • The average turnover rate for fast food restaurant employees is approximately 150%, compared to 60% for all industries.
  • Approximately 70% of fast food restaurant managers have reported difficulty in retaining staff, citing low wages as a primary reason.
  • Fast food industry employee turnover rate is approximately three times higher than the average for all sectors.
  • The share of fast food workers who plan to leave within the next year is estimated at 40%.
  • The average tenure of a fast food employee is roughly 6 months.
  • More than 75% of fast food restaurants experience high employee turnover annually.

Employee Turnover and Retention Interpretation

With a turnover rate nearly two and a half times higher than other industries, fast food restaurants are caught in a perpetual dance of staffing chaos, largely driven by low wages that make retaining employees a fleeting goal at best.

Industry Workforce Characteristics

  • About 45% of fast food restaurant employees work part-time, which is significantly higher than the overall employment average.
  • Approximately 55% of fast food employees receive some form of informal on-the-job training.
  • Around 22% of fast food workers are employed through temporary staffing agencies.
  • Less than 10% of fast food employees hold managerial or supervisory positions.
  • Fast food industry employees are 55% more likely to work night shifts compared to other retail sectors.
  • The traditional fast food employee works an average of 25 hours per week.
  • The percentage of part-time to full-time staff in fast food chains typically stands at 3:1.
  • Fast food industry boasts roughly 4 million employees nationwide.
  • Approximately 65% of fast food employees work on weekends.
  • The proportion of fast food restaurants employing digital ordering kiosks has grown to 35% in the last 3 years.
  • Nearly 80% of fast food establishments have reported difficulty attracting qualified staff in recent years.
  • Fast food workers earning minimum wage make up approximately 50% of the workforce.
  • The proportion of fast food restaurants with digital training modules for staff is around 25%.

Industry Workforce Characteristics Interpretation

With nearly half the workforce on part-time hours, many fast food employees are stuck in a digital, shift-changing twilight zone where informal training and weekend work are the norm, managerial roles are scarce, and securing qualified staff remains a burger-flipping challenge—highlighting an industry hungry for stable staffing solutions amid the rise of tech-driven service.

Wages, Compensation, and Benefits

  • The average hourly wage for fast food workers in the U.S. is around $11.50, below the national average for all industries.
  • Only 25% of fast food restaurant employees feel satisfied with their wages, according to recent surveys.
  • The proportion of fast food employees with access to benefits like health insurance is less than 20%, significantly lower than other sectors.
  • Nearly 15% of fast food workers have no health insurance coverage.
  • Only 20% of fast food workers report being offered paid sick leave.
  • The average wage increase for fast food workers over the past five years is less than 3% annually.
  • Only about 10% of fast food workers currently participate in company-sponsored retirement plans.
  • About 25% of fast food employees work more than 35 hours per week, qualifying them for benefits in some territories.
  • The adoption rate of employee wellness programs in fast food has increased to 30% over the past two years.

Wages, Compensation, and Benefits Interpretation

Fast food workers, earning well below the national average and often lacking basic benefits like health insurance and paid sick leave, are serving up a stark reminder that in this industry, low wages and minimal support are still on the menu despite slight gains in wellness initiatives.

Work Environment and Employee Experiences

  • 85% of fast food restaurants report high pressure to meet sales targets, impacting employee stress levels.
  • Over 50% of fast food workers report experiencing physical fatigue or injury in the past year, often due to long shifts and fast-paced environment.
  • Nearly 40% of fast food employees report workload as a significant reason for job dissatisfaction.
  • The rate of absenteeism in fast food restaurants is approximately 8%, higher than the average for service industries.
  • About 30% of fast food workers report experiencing verbal abuse from customers at least monthly.
  • Approximately 50% of fast food restaurants have implemented employee recognition programs to improve morale.
  • Only 12% of fast food employees feel that their workplace adequately supports mental health.
  • Fast food workers are 40% more likely to experience job-related stress compared to other retail workers.
  • Nearly 70% of fast food managers have reported high stress levels affecting their health.
  • The likelihood of male fast food employees experiencing workplace harassment is 30% lower than for females.
  • Employee engagement levels in fast food are about 10% lower than in full-service restaurants.
  • The prevalence of part-time fast food jobs allows for flexible scheduling but often results in inconsistent income.
  • The average number of customer complaints per fast food restaurant per month is approximately 12.
  • Over 60% of fast food employees have reported experiencing low morale during peak seasons.
  • Employee absenteeism costs fast food restaurants an estimated $1.2 billion annually.

Work Environment and Employee Experiences Interpretation

With high sales pressures, physical strain, and a whopping $1.2 billion annual absenteeism cost, fast food workers are flipping more than burgers—they're tirelessly flipping their mental and physical health with little support, revealing a pressing need for a menu change in employee well-being.