Biggest Hotel and Restaurant Hiring Challenges in U.S. 2026

TL;DR

• Hotel and restaurant hiring challenges now come from low pay, hard shifts, quick exits, and slow screening.
• 42% of full-service restaurant operators report moderate or extreme hiring problems (Toast), and over half of hotels say they are understaffed (AHLA).
• A restaurant staffing shortage often means too few people for the right shift, not too few people overall.
• Hotel staff turnover grows when pay is low, schedules change, and managers give little support.
• A one-way video interview helps managers check communication skills early and save time.

Why Hotel and Restaurant Hiring Challenges Still Exist

Nationwide, the picture has improved. Accommodation and food services had about 684,000 job openings in June 2026, the lowest level since August 2020. But a national number hides local problems. A hotel in a tourist town can still go weeks without one good applicant for the night shift.

Hotel and restaurant hiring challenges are mostly about fit and timing. Managers need people for nights, weekends, and holidays, while many applicants want steady hours and dependable pay. When those needs do not match, shifts stay open.

7 Hotel and Restaurant Hiring Challenges Managers Face Most

• Low starting pay. Many workers can earn more in other fields.
• Hard-to-cover shifts. Early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays are tough to fill, which is where a restaurant staffing shortage hurts most.
• Changing schedules. A study of 1,678 quick-service stores linked unstable schedules to higher turnover.
  High turnover. Hotel staff turnover is costly because each exit means new posts, interviews, and training.
  Weak manager support. Difficult managers push new hires out fast.
• Seasonal spikes. Summer travel, holidays, and events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup push seasonal hiring to the top of every list.
• Slow hiring steps. Good candidates often accept another offer while a manager is still booking a call.

Hotels vs. Restaurants: Where the Pressure Shows Up

Both industries share the same hotel and restaurant hiring challenges, but the pressure points differ.

What These Hiring Problems Cost You

Every open shift has a price. Team members cover extra hours, service slows, and guests notice. Tired staff then leave, which makes the next hire harder. This is why hotel and restaurant hiring challenges feed on each other. Strong employee retention in hospitality starts with hiring people who fit the job from day one.

How to Fix Your Hiring Process

Start with clear job posts. Share the pay range, shift times, and tip rules up front, so people who cannot work those hours do not apply. Then reply fast. Answer new applicants within a day, because slow replies lose good people.

Next, build a fair candidate screening process. Ask every candidate the same first questions, and check attitude and communication early. Friendliness, calm under pressure, and teamwork matter in guest-facing roles, and a resume rarely shows them.

Plan seasonal hiring weeks before peak months, train managers to give clear feedback, and offer flexible hours where you can. Teams that take these steps reduce hotel and restaurant hiring challenges one by one.

How ScreeningHive Helps with Hospitality Hiring

ScreeningHive is a one-way video interview tool. Candidates record answers to set questions on their own time, and managers watch when it suits their day. It works well for high-volume hiring, where dozens of people apply for the same server, housekeeper, or front desk job.

Here is why teams facing hotel and restaurant hiring challenges use it:

• Same questions for everyone. Set them once per role, so comparing candidates is simple and fair.
• Review anytime. No phone tag or missed calls. Watch a full day of answers in one sitting.
• See real communication skills. A short video shows how a person speaks and handles a tough guest moment, which helps when you hire frontline hospitality workers.
• Share with your team. Send clips to the general manager or owner before the final round.
• Easy to start. Sign up free and build your first interview in minutes.

Latest Data on Hotel and Restaurant Hiring Challenges

1. Over half of hotels are understaffed. AHLA's February 2026 survey of 246 hoteliers found over half somewhat or severely understaffed, and 70% raised wages. (AHLA) (Resource)
2. Restaurant hiring is still hard. In Toast's 2025 research, 42% of full-service operators reported moderate or extreme hiring challenges. (Toast) (Resource)
3. Job openings are down, but recovery is uneven. About 684,000 openings in June 2026 was the lowest since August 2020, and full-service jobs are still 3.2?low February 2020. (National Restaurant Association) (Resource)
4. Pay and managers push workers out. In Toast's survey of 624 workers, 33% named poor pay and 30% named difficult managers; median pay is $16.85 an hour vs. $24.51 for all U.S. jobs. (Toast, BLS) (Resource)
   

Conclusion

Hotel and restaurant hiring challenges will not go away on their own. Pay, shift fit, turnover, and slow screening all play a part, and small, steady changes help with each one. Share clear job details, use the same questions for every applicant, and check communication skills early.

ScreeningHive turns that first screen into a short video answer managers can watch anytime. For teams that hire every week, that means faster shortlists, less phone tag, and better odds of hiring people who stay.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the biggest hotel and restaurant hiring challenges in the U.S.?

The biggest ones are low pay, hard-to-cover shifts, high turnover, changing schedules, weak manager support, seasonal spikes, and slow hiring steps.

2. Is there still a restaurant labor shortage in 2026?

Yes, but it is narrower than before. Openings in accommodation and food services fell to about 684,000 in June 2026, yet 42% of full-service operators still report hiring problems. The gaps are tied to certain roles, shifts, and places.

3. Why is hotel staff turnover so high?

Low pay, changing schedules, tough shifts, and little manager support drive it. Hotel staff turnover also rises after busy seasons, when temporary workers leave.

4. How can hotels and restaurants hire seasonal workers faster?

Start seasonal hiring earlier, post clear pay and shift times, reply within a day, and use the same first questions for every candidate.

5. What is the best way to screen many applicants for hospitality jobs?

Use a simple candidate screening process with the same questions for everyone. A one-way video interview lets you review many applicants fast without booking dozens of calls.

6. What is ScreeningHive and how does it help hotels and restaurants hire?

ScreeningHive is a one-way video interview tool. Candidates record answers to your set questions, and your team watches them anytime, which cuts screening time and keeps comparisons fair.