Restaurant Industry Projected to Top $1.55 Trillion in Sales, Add 100,000 Workers in 2026

Nationwide restaurant sales are projected to reach $1.55 trillion this year — an inflation-adjusted gain of 1.3%, according to the National Restaurant Association’s newly released State of the Restaurant Industry 2026 report.

Economic fundamentals, including employment and income growth, will likely support continued consumer spending, the report states. Still, consumer resilience is being tested. Sixty-one percent of adults consider dining out essential to their lifestyle, even as they experience tighter budgets. As such, the National Restaurant Association believes value offerings and loyalty programs will play a key role in sales growth.

As sales rise, restaurants are expected to increase their hiring. Operators said they plan to add about 100,000 jobs during 2026, bringing total industry employment to 15.8 million. To prepare those individuals to work in the industry, operators are increasing their focus on workforce development and technology improvements. The National Restaurant Association notes that this approach will create a skilled and adaptable workforce alongside breakthrough efficiencies in the areas of digital ordering, automation, and data analytics.

Those advancements are part of a larger industry strategy to find innovative solutions in the face of a tougher operational landscape. Elevated costs and margin pressures persist, with 42% of operators reporting they were not profitable in 2025. Uneven traffic and rising costs are expected to continue to affect revenue and profitability.

The full State of the Restaurant Industry 2026 report is available here.