Upskilling And Reskilling In The Foodservice Industry Statistics

The foodservice industry recorded over 2.3 million job openings in a single year. Nearly one in ten workers quit in the following year, highlighting an acute need for effective skill development. Measurable results, from reduced turnover to fewer safety incidents, demonstrate the impact of structured training investments.

Key Takeaways

2.3 million job openings existed in food services and drinking places in 2022 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, JOLTS)
9.1% of U.S. restaurant and food service workers quit their jobs in 2023 (BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, quits rate by industry)
22% of U.S. restaurant workers were employed part-time in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPS)
34% of U.S. restaurants reported investing in training programs in the past 12 months (2023 vendor/industry benchmark)
55% of frontline workers complete training via mobile devices in organizations that have digitized learning (2019–2021 workplace learning benchmark)
3.1% reduction in employee turnover associated with structured onboarding improvements (2019 meta-analytic estimate in HR research applied to hospitality onboarding)
12% fewer safety incidents reported after food safety training programs (systematic review estimate, peer-reviewed)
Training programs in food safety are associated with a 20–40% reduction in cross-contamination risk in controlled studies (systematic review range)
2.5x returns-to-training: firms that provide training experience higher productivity growth than non-training firms (OECD training productivity relationship findings)
20% to 60% of employees may leave within the first year in absence of structured onboarding (HR research range; implications for retention-focused reskilling)
Training accounts for roughly 1%–3% of payroll in many service organizations (Workplace training expenditure estimate cited by OECD)
3,000 deaths annually are attributed to foodborne diseases in the U.S. (CDC)
1,000+ pages of the FDA Food Code set the basis for food safety training standards (FDA Food Code 2022 includes managerial and employee training provisions)
83% of restaurant operators say retaining employees is critical to their business (2022 NRA survey)
1 in 5 restaurant workers reported limited English proficiency, increasing need for accessible training materials (MSI/peer-reviewed compilation)

Foodservice workforce turnover and shortages make upskilling and safety training essential for retention, productivity, and growth.

01 · Category

Labor Market Demand10 stats

2.3 million job openings existed in food services and drinking places in 2022 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, JOLTS)

9.1% of U.S. restaurant and food service workers quit their jobs in 2023 (BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, quits rate by industry)

22% of U.S. restaurant workers were employed part-time in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPS)

2.4 million people employed in food preparation and serving-related occupations in the U.S. (BLS OEWS 2023/2024 occupation employment)

Food service managers had a median pay of $59,000in 2023 (BLS OEWS median annual wage)

Chefs and head cooks had a median pay of $55,000in 2023 (BLS OEWS median annual wage)

First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers had a median pay of $43,000in 2023 (BLS OEWS median annual wage)

Job growth for food preparation and serving-related occupations is projected at 6% from 2022 to 2032 (BLS Employment Projections)

8% job growth projected for chefs and head cooks from 2022 to 2032 (BLS Employment Projections)

7% job growth projected for food service managers from 2022 to 2032 (BLS Employment Projections)

Interpretation

Labor Market Demand Interpretation

With 2.3 million job openings in food services and drinking places in 2022 and 9.1% of restaurant and food service workers quitting in 2023, labor market demand is strong but turnover is high, signaling a clear need for ongoing upskilling and reskilling to keep positions filled.

02 · Category

Market Size1 stats

34% of U.S. restaurants reported investing in training programs in the past 12 months (2023 vendor/industry benchmark)

Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

In 2023, 34% of U.S. restaurants reported investing in training programs over the prior 12 months, indicating a meaningful and measurable market-size commitment to upskilling and reskilling in foodservice.

03 · Category

Technology Enablement1 stats

55% of frontline workers complete training via mobile devices in organizations that have digitized learning (2019–2021 workplace learning benchmark)

Interpretation

Technology Enablement Interpretation

In the technology enablement push for foodservice, 55% of frontline workers complete training through mobile devices in organizations that have digitized learning, showing how mobile learning is becoming a core delivery method when training is digitally enabled.

04 · Category

Performance Metrics3 stats

3.1% reduction in employee turnover associated with structured onboarding improvements (2019 meta-analytic estimate in HR research applied to hospitality onboarding)

12% fewer safety incidents reported after food safety training programs (systematic review estimate, peer-reviewed)

Training programs in food safety are associated with a 20–40% reduction in cross-contamination risk in controlled studies (systematic review range)

Interpretation

Performance Metrics Interpretation

From a performance metrics perspective, improving onboarding and food safety training appears to deliver measurable gains, with employee turnover dropping by 3.1%, safety incidents falling by 12%, and cross-contamination risk reduced by 20 to 40% in controlled studies.

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05 · Category

Cost Analysis6 stats

2.5x returns-to-training: firms that provide training experience higher productivity growth than non-training firms (OECD training productivity relationship findings)

20% to 60% of employees may leave within the first year in absence of structured onboarding (HR research range; implications for retention-focused reskilling)

Training accounts for roughly 1%–3% of payroll in many service organizations (Workplace training expenditure estimate cited by OECD)

€2.3 billion annual cost of foodborne outbreaks for EU healthcare and productivity (ECDC/EFSA estimate supporting economic incentive for training)

The global corporate eLearning market reached $399 billion in 2020 (global market context for digital upskilling budgets)

$5.1 billion global hospitality training software market in 2022 (vendor market sizing context for training tech adoption)

Interpretation

Cost Analysis Interpretation

From a cost analysis perspective, training budgets often sit at just about 1% to 3% of payroll but can deliver up to 2.5x higher productivity growth, making structured upskilling and reskilling financially compelling even when first-year attrition without onboarding can reach 20% to 60%.

06 · Category

Food Safety Upskilling2 stats

3,000 deaths annually are attributed to foodborne diseases in the U.S. (CDC)

1,000+ pages of the FDA Food Code set the basis for food safety training standards (FDA Food Code 2022 includes managerial and employee training provisions)

Interpretation

Food Safety Upskilling Interpretation

With 3,000 annual U.S. deaths from foodborne diseases underscoring the stakes, foodservice food safety upskilling remains urgent, especially as the FDA Food Code spans 1,000+ pages that shape the training standards for managers and employees.

07 · Category

Industry Trends2 stats

83% of restaurant operators say retaining employees is critical to their business (2022 NRA survey)

1 in 5 restaurant workers reported limited English proficiency, increasing need for accessible training materials (MSI/peer-reviewed compilation)

Interpretation

Industry Trends Interpretation

Industry trends in foodservice show that retaining employees is a top priority with 83% of restaurant operators citing it as critical in 2022, while 1 in 5 workers having limited English proficiency underscores the need for more accessible upskilling and reskilling training materials.

report visual · Key figures

Upskilling & reskilling: demand, adoption, and outcomes

Restaurant and foodservice employers face ongoing staffing pressure, yet training adoption and structured onboarding are linked to improved retention and safety outcomes.

9.1%

9.1% of U.S. restaurant and food service workers quit their jobs in 2023 (BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, qu

34%

34% of U.S. restaurants reported investing in training programs in the past 12 months (2023 vendor/industry benchmark)

3.1%

3.1% reduction in employee turnover associated with structured onboarding improvements (2019 meta-analytic estimate in H

12%

12% fewer safety incidents reported after food safety training programs (systematic review estimate, peer-reviewed)

2.5

2.5x returns-to-training: firms that provide training experience higher productivity growth than non-training firms (OEC

source-verifiedbls.gov · restaurantdive.com · journals.sagepub.com · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · oecd.org2023

Reference

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APA

Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Upskilling And Reskilling In The Foodservice Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-foodservice-industry-statistics

MLA

Priya Chandrasekaran. "Upskilling And Reskilling In The Foodservice Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-foodservice-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Upskilling And Reskilling In The Foodservice Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-foodservice-industry-statistics.