McDonald's to hire 375K US workers this summer — most in years despite weak first quarter

Core Points - McDonald's plans to hire up to 375,000 US restaurant employees this summer, marking its largest hiring initiative in years [1] - The hiring surge is partly driven by a US expansion, with plans to open 9,000 additional restaurants by 2027 [1][4] - The new positions will be permanent, although the company does not expect its US workforce to exceed 1.1 million by the end of summer due to employee turnover [4] Hiring Context - The last significant hiring effort occurred in 2020, when McDonald's aimed to add 260,000 workers during the reopening phase post-COVID-19 [5] - The current hiring initiative reflects optimism about improving US restaurant traffic as the year progresses [5] Sales Performance - In the January-March period, McDonald's US same-store sales fell by 3.6%, the largest decline since the pandemic began [6] - Lower- and middle-income consumers have reduced fast food spending due to inflation concerns and economic uncertainty [8][12] Industry Outlook - Other restaurant operators are also optimistic, with US restaurants and bars adding over 46,000 jobs in March and April [9] - Overall hiring remains strong, with American employers adding 177,000 jobs in April despite economic uncertainties [9] Employee Development - McDonald's celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Archways to Opportunity program, which has provided tuition assistance and career services to over 90,000 employees, totaling $240 million in assistance [12] - Employees like Anamaria Monterroso highlight the program's impact on personal development and career aspirations [13]