Restaurants Can’t Find Workers. AI Says It Can.

Restaurants Can’t Find Workers. AI Says It Can.

Restaurants Can’t Find Workers. AI Says It Can.

https://www.pymnts.com/news/artificial-intelligence/2026/restaurants-cannot-find-workers-ai-says-it-can/

Publish Date: 2026-05-26 18:07:00

Source Domain: www.pymnts.com

  • Labor Challenges in the Restaurant Industry: Staffing shortages, high turnover, and retention problems continue to strain restaurant economics despite advances in online ordering, delivery, and digital payments.

  • MAJC Platform and Solutions: Miami-based MAJC, launched in February, addresses these labor challenges using artificial intelligence for job-matching, training, and community tools to build a stable workforce.

  • Persistent Statistics: The National Restaurant Association projects a large restaurant workforce, yet turnover rates remain high, with some restaurants reporting annual rates exceeding 75%.

  • Technology’s Role in Labor Efficiency: Operators indicate that AI and technology can significantly improve labor efficiency, training, and scheduling, as demonstrated by examples like Chipotle’s faster hiring process using multilingual AI tools.

  • Platform Focus: MAJC seeks to integrate hiring infrastructure and retention culture, aiming to provide tools that help attract, develop, and retain talent while competing with larger chains.

  • Future Trends: The industry’s growing reliance on technology and AI signals a shift in addressing labor shortages, with initiatives focusing on improving hiring speed and workforce efficiency.