The #1 Ranked Culinary School in the U.S., Escoffier, compiled data on restaurant industry demographics, focusing on ownership and workforce diversity.
The study aimed to provide a detailed view of minority and women ownership in the restaurant sector, as well as the demographic makeup of restaurant employees across racial, gender, age, and educational dimensions.
“Generally speaking, both restaurant owners and restaurant employees represent more diverse populations than the broader economy — though the details paint a slightly more complex picture,” according to the November 2024 report.
To find out about the diversity among restaurant industry owners and employees, Escoffier looked through industry demographics.
The study revealed:
- Forty-one percent of U.S. restaurants are minority-owned, surpassing the broader private sector average of 30%, with Asian ownership significantly overrepresented by 196.9%.
- Nearly half (47%) of all restaurants are owned by women, compared to 43% in the broader private sector, with states like Montana leading at 62%.
- Forty percent of restaurant employees are under 25, and 50% identify as part of a minority racial or ethnic group — significantly more diverse than the overall U.S. labor force.