Just this summer alone, McDonald’s intends to onboard as many as 375,000 new workers into its restaurants across the country. It’s indicative of the company’s largest workforce expansion in several years! As it stands, the global fast-food empire is facing incredible economic constraints. In addition, inflation and economic uncertainty have led lower- and middle-income consumers to reduce their fast food spending during that same first quarter of this year.
Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald’s U.S., said that the company is seeing hopeful signs in the return of U.S. restaurant traffic. McDonald’s is riding that optimism and then some, as the fast food giant announced plans to open 900 additional restaurants through 2027. This expansion will further strengthen its already-convenient network of more than 13,500 locations nationwide. This matches the recent decline in same-store sales, which were down 3.6% for the January-March quarter. This drop, the deepest since the pandemic began, underscored the enormous challenge McDonald’s has been up against.
Well, against this complicated economic headwind, McDonald’s is making big headlines on behalf of their workers. Whether it’s through their “Archways to Opportunity” program or others, they’re trying to do so much more. This program offers staff members access to educational resources and career growth opportunities. For Anamaria Monterroso, who put in eight years at McDonald’s, today she is studying human resources through Colorado Technical University. She hopes to be one of the first members of her family to graduate from a four-year college.
“Just because you work in fast food doesn’t mean your dreams end there,” – Anamaria Monterroso
The wider labor market is recovering too! In March and April, U.S. restaurants and bars combined added more than 46,000 new jobs. This upbeat employment landscape reinforces McDonald’s commitment to help build a better summer workforce. They hope that it will generate more positive customer foot traffic and higher sales.
Additionally, Lori Chavez-DeRemer commented on the impact of McDonald’s hiring strategy, stating that it “is sparking a ripple effect of prosperity for our workers, communities and the economy.” That sense of purpose underscores the company’s desire to not just bounce back but prosper in the wake of prolonged economic pressure.
