Tens of millions have lost their jobs to the Coronavirus pandemic. But last month, the job market had a slight bounce back as employers started to bring back millions of furloughed workers. The unemployment rate declined with 2.5 million jobs in May, according to the Labor Department.
Dunkin' Donuts is of the companies ($DNKN) planning to hire more people as states reopen. As of now, Dunkin' is set to bring on 25,000 employees across its 8,500 restaurants. The company is off to a slow and steady start. Over the past three months, Dunkin's LinkedIn employee headcount has increased by 9%.
Since February, the company’s job listings have fallen by 84%. The careers page hasn’t been updated to account for the 25,000 potential hires.
Openings will include front of the counter positions and restaurant manager spots. Dunkin' is also offering employees cheap online college education via Southern New Hampshire University.
“Dunkin' is committed to keeping America running and working. We are proud to support our franchisees who offer much-needed job opportunities, in a welcoming environment where people can feel appreciated and rewarded for serving both customers and their communities during this critical time,” Dunkin' Brands senior vice president and chief human resources officer Stephanie Lilak said in a statement.
Dunkin' won’t be hard-pressed for customers to return, because they never left. The coffee and donut chain’s drive-thru and pick-up options are nothing new, so those who run on Dunkin' didn’t miss a beat in their routine during the quarantine. Facebook mentions of Dunkin Donuts were 48% higher over the past few months, compared to January.
According to Yahoo Finance, restaurant industry employment has plummeted by 4.7 million since its peak in February. The industry’s unemployment rate was at a low 5.7% in February and rose to 32.3% as Coronavirus caused lockdowns and store closings. But things are looking up. From April to May, the restaurant sector added about 1.4 million jobs as states started to reopen.
About the Data:
Thinknum tracks companies using the information they post online - jobs, social and web traffic, product sales, and app ratings - and creates data sets that measure factors like hiring, revenue, and foot traffic. Data sets may not be fully comprehensive (they only account for what is available on the web), but they can be used to gauge performance factors like staffing and sales.