We always remember our first. Our first boy or girlfriend. Our first car. And of course our first job. I know that my first job taught me a lot. From what I liked about to the world of work to absolute deal breakers; it was an amazing learning experience.
I was happy to get my “working” feet wet at a big box retail store. However, most of my friends started out in the restaurant industry. In fact, 69% of of employees ages 18-24 have their first job in the restaurant industry. And it’s these folks, who don’t know it at the time, that are the backbone of the nation’s economy.
It also starts many folks on a career path that they never veer from. After experiencing the high-energy work environment of the restaurant world, those desk jobs lose some of their luster.
Many folks in the restaurant industry continue their education while working. According to a new infographic released by The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, 64% of bartenders, 49% of managers and 41% of servers are enrolled in a four-year college or university. In addition, 48% of industry business operation employees are enrolled in graduate school and 45% of chefs or cooks are enrolled in hospitality or culinary arts programs. The industry allows for employees to further their education and careers. This not only allows for a ton of growth within the industry, but gives workers an abundance of choices in the future. And when it comes to choosing your career, choices are nice.
But with so many long-term career prospects in the restaurant industry, most people plan to stay for the long haul. Seventy-two percent of business operations managers, 69% of chefs or cooks and 56% of restaurant managers plan to continue working in restaurants after graduation.
The restaurant industry continues to be An Industry of Opportunity for short-term and long-term growth. If you are searching for a career, or looking to make a career transition, check out the Building Blocks graphic below for more restaurant industry facts.
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