This reference brings together recent U.S. restaurant-industry figures from the National Restaurant Association and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each figure links to its primary source and includes the source date.
Last updated: October 15, 2026
$1.55T
Projected U.S. restaurant and foodservice sales in 2026
The National Restaurant Association projects nationwide sales of $1.55 trillion in 2026, with inflation-adjusted growth of 1.3%.
Source: National Restaurant Association, February 11, 202615.8M
Projected restaurant and foodservice jobs in 2026
Operators expect to add approximately 100,000 jobs in 2026, bringing total industry employment to 15.8 million.
Source: National Restaurant Association, February 11, 202610,800
Jobs added by eating and drinking places in September 2026
Eating and drinking places added a net 10,800 jobs in September on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics data summarized by the Association.
Source: National Restaurant Association, October 2, 2026Nearly 50,000
Jobs added in the first nine months of 2026
Eating and drinking places added nearly 50,000 jobs from January through September 2026, with employment 109,000 above year-earlier levels.
Source: National Restaurant Association, October 2, 2026+108,000
Eating and drinking place jobs above February 2020 levels
As of September 2026, employment at eating and drinking places was 108,000 jobs, or 0.9%, above its February 2020 level.
Source: National Restaurant Association, October 2, 2026174,000
Full-service restaurant jobs still below February 2020 levels
As of August 2026, full-service restaurant employment remained 174,000 jobs, or 3%, below its February 2020 level.
Source: National Restaurant Association, October 2, 20262.4M
Average annual openings in food preparation and serving occupations
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 2.4 million openings per year from 2025 through 2035 across food preparation and serving occupations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, updated August 27, 2026What the numbers show
Restaurant activity is growing, while staffing conditions remain uneven.
Industry sales are projected to grow in 2026, and eating and drinking places have added jobs overall. At the same time, the monthly path has been uneven and full-service restaurant employment remains below its February 2020 level.
For operators, designers, and builders, this makes practical room planning more important. Seating, table placement, and service circulation should support a dining room that works consistently for guests and teams during every shift.
Methodology and sources
How this page is maintained
Only figures published by named primary sources are included. Forecasts are labeled as projections, and employment figures keep the date and segment used by the source. The page is reviewed regularly and older figures are replaced when a newer source update becomes available.
- National Restaurant Association, State of the Restaurant Industry 2026 , published February 11, 2026.
- National Restaurant Association, Total restaurant industry jobs , published October 2, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Food Preparation and Serving Occupations , updated August 27, 2026.
Cite this page
Have a Seat USA. “Restaurant Industry Statistics: 2026 U.S. Snapshot.” Updated October 15, 2026. https://haveaseatusa.com/restaurant-industry-statistics
Planning a dining room
Use the numbers as context, then plan the setting around the shift.
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