Food Service Workers

Because work schedules can be flexible, part-time work is often available, and because people need little or no training to do this work, the food service industry employs a substantial number of people. Additionally, the demand for restaurants and other eateries continues to grow as our population grows. In particular, the large and growing population of senior citizens, who often prefer to dine at restaurants offering table service from waiters, should mean a steady demand for those in this field. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), employment for food and beverage serving and related workers should grow faster than the average for all careers through 2024. Although the DOL predicts slower-than average growth for waiters through 2024, opportunities are expected to be good because of the high turnover in this profession. The DOL says that "candidates with previous work experience and excellent customer-service skills will have the best job opportunities in upscale restaurants."