McDonald’s to Hire 375,000 Workers in Major Summer Employment Push

Fast food giant McDonald’s has announced plans to hire up to 375,000 workers across its U.S. locations this summer, marking its largest recruitment drive in five years.

The move, unveiled at an Ohio restaurant on Monday alongside U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, is aimed at boosting staffing levels at more than 13,000 restaurants nationwide in preparation for the busy summer season. It also supports the company’s growth strategy, which includes plans to open 900 new locations over the next two years.

Although McDonald’s already employs around 800,000 people across its American outlets, the new hires are largely intended to fill existing roles left vacant by frequent turnover – an ongoing challenge in the fast-food industry. Employee replacement is a constant cycle, as turnover rates often reach 100% annually.

Unlike previous years, this large-scale hiring campaign reflects a more centralized effort by McDonald’s, which typically leaves staffing decisions to its franchisees. The initiative also comes at a time when other major employers, such as Chipotle, UPS, and Amazon, conduct seasonal hiring based on cyclical demand.

Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald’s USA, described the hiring campaign as a “win-win,” noting that investing in workers helps the company remain competitive while also strengthening local communities.

The hiring target is especially ambitious in light of current labor trends. In April, the U.S. economy added just 177,000 jobs, while unemployment remains low at 4.2%.

This employment push also comes at a challenging time for McDonald’s. The company recently reported a second straight quarter of declining sales at its U.S. locations. Same-store sales dropped 3.6%, the worst performance since the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

According to CEO Chris Kempczinski, the sharpest decline came from low-income customers, whose spending fell by nearly double digits compared to last year. Even middle-income consumers, who had previously remained steady, have begun to reduce their spending at McDonald’s – an indication of mounting financial pressure across income brackets.

As McDonald’s prepares for its summer rush, the company is betting that a strong, well-supported workforce will help it weather current economic headwinds and regain momentum in a cooling consumer market.