Chipotle announces new job recruitment for 15,000 staff ahead of busiest months

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced it would be hiring 15,000 new employees as it anticipates more customers in the coming months. The restaurant chain considers the spring season, which runs from March to May, as its busiest time; thus, it needs more staff in the stores.

Following the labor crunch that became a big issue after the pandemic lockdowns, fast-food chains had a hard time retaining and recruiting new workers. The problem has been resolved, and most restaurants have enough employees these days. However, with the expected higher demand in spring, they need more staff even with the unrelenting inflation.

Moreover, news of job cuts in the tech and retail industry are always on the headlines these days, but it is notable that the restaurant industry has not faced any massive cuts. In fact, based on the Labor Department’s data, the unemployment rate for restaurants was down to 5.2% in December, compared to the pre-pandemic level of 5.7%, CNBC reported.

Chipotle said it is working on speeding up its job recruitment process and attracting more applicants, it is offering various benefits such as tuition reimbursement, free meals, mental health care, debt-free college degrees, and a bonus worth an extra month’s wage every year.

The restaurant’s chief officer also said that the latest hiring is also part of their growth efforts. It currently employs more than 100,000 staff and aims to bring the number of its stores to 7,000.

"Our restaurant teams are the core of this organization and with a goal of more than doubling our footprint to 7,000 locations in North America, we are targeting employees today to serve as our leaders of tomorrow," Chipottle’s chief restaurant officer, Scott Boatwright, said in a press release. "We will continue bringing in new crew to support Chipotle's aggressive growth plans, while simultaneously promoting and upskilling those currently in the role."