A “Now Hiring” sign is posted outside a Chipotle restaurant on October 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images
Chipotle Mexican Grill hopes to hire 19,000 new workers this spring to make its burritos and bowls, the company said Wednesday.
The company's hiring target suggests that despite another round of menu price hikes in October, the company expects an even busier spring than usual. The chain's recruiting target is about 27% higher than a year ago, when it sought 15,000 new workers for its so-called burrito season from March to May.
For Chipotle, having enough workers becomes even more important during the busy period. In order to meet the increased demand, the chain needs many employees. Spring weather is luring back Chipotle customers who stayed away during the winter months, but the chain's focus on college towns means summer sales typically decline.
Chipotle currently employs more than 110,000 people.
Attracting workers has become more difficult for the catering industry in recent years, primarily due to the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of hospitality jobs were lost as bars and restaurants closed temporarily or permanently. Industry veterans moved to white-collar or warehouse jobs because they sought protection from Covid-19, better working conditions or both. According to the Labor Department, the food service workforce finally recovered to pre-pandemic levels in September.
But even before coronavirus, restaurants were struggling to recruit and retain younger workers, who often look for internships instead.
Chipotle also announced new benefits Wednesday to help younger workers deal with financial challenges. The company matches up to 4% of eligible employees' salaries by contributing to their 401(k) when they make student loan payments. Additionally, Chipotle employees can also sign up for a Credi.ai debit card, which builds credit with no fees or interest.
Chipotle is expected to report its fourth-quarter results after the market closes on February 6.