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

New York Post - May 12th, 2025
Open on New York Post

McDonald's announced plans to hire up to 375,000 employees across its US restaurants this summer, marking its largest recruitment drive in years. This move is part of a significant US expansion plan, with the company aiming to open 9,000 more locations by 2027. The announcement, made at a McDonald's near Columbus, Ohio, was attended by US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and McDonald's US President Joe Erlinger. The hiring initiative, which targets both company-owned and franchised outlets, underscores McDonald's optimism in the recovering restaurant industry, despite recent declines in same-store sales. Notably, the company intends these positions to be permanent, acknowledging the high turnover typical in the fast-food sector.

This expansion and hiring spree reflect broader economic trends and McDonald's role in the fast-food industry. The announcement comes as other restaurant operators, like Chipotle, signal similar optimism by expanding their workforce. Additionally, McDonald's used the occasion to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Archways to Opportunity program, which has provided educational support to over 90,000 employees. The program exemplifies McDonald's commitment to employee development, offering tuition assistance and career services, contributing to the broader narrative of corporate responsibility and community investment. This strategic growth and support initiative aims to bolster employee retention and drive industry standards for workforce investment.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and mostly accurate overview of McDonald's hiring plans and their potential impact on the US economy. It effectively communicates the company's intentions and highlights its role in job creation and employee development. However, the story could benefit from more balanced reporting by including diverse perspectives and expert analyses.

The article's readability and clarity are strong points, making it accessible to a general audience. However, it lacks depth in exploring potential controversies or challenges associated with McDonald's expansion and hiring strategy. Addressing these areas could enhance the article's engagement and impact.

Overall, the story serves as a useful introduction to McDonald's current initiatives but would be strengthened by a more comprehensive exploration of the broader implications and potential criticisms of such a large-scale hiring effort.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story makes several factual claims about McDonald's hiring plans, US expansion, and economic conditions. It correctly states that McDonald's plans to hire up to 375,000 US workers this summer, which aligns with the company's official announcements. However, there is a discrepancy regarding the number of new restaurants McDonald's plans to open by 2027, where the article mentions 9,000, which is likely a typographical error as other sources cite 900. This error affects the story's overall accuracy.

The article accurately reports on the attendance of US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and McDonald's US President Joe Erlinger at the hiring announcement event. It also correctly references McDonald's last major hiring spree in 2020 and the company's expectations for workforce turnover. However, the claim about McDonald's US same-store sales decline of 3.6% in the first quarter needs verification from financial reports or credible industry analyses.

Overall, the story is mostly accurate but requires careful attention to detail, particularly regarding numerical data and economic statistics. The factual claims about the Archways to Opportunity program and its impact on employees are consistent with McDonald's publicized data.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on McDonald's perspective, highlighting its hiring plans and positive impacts on the economy. It includes quotes from McDonald's US President and the US Labor Secretary, which emphasize the company's contribution to economic growth and employee development. However, it lacks viewpoints from external analysts or critics who might provide a more nuanced perspective on the potential challenges or criticisms of such a large-scale hiring initiative.

The story could benefit from including insights from labor economists or industry analysts to provide a balanced view of the potential economic impacts of McDonald's hiring plans. Additionally, perspectives from employees or labor unions could offer a more comprehensive understanding of the working conditions and long-term employment prospects within McDonald's.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and straightforward, with a logical flow of information. It effectively outlines McDonald's hiring plans, the rationale behind them, and the broader economic context. However, the numerical discrepancy regarding the number of new restaurants could confuse readers.

The language used is accessible and avoids jargon, making it easy for a general audience to understand. The inclusion of direct quotes from key figures adds to the story's clarity by providing authoritative voices on the topic. Overall, the article communicates its main points effectively, despite minor errors.

5
Source quality

The story relies heavily on statements from McDonald's officials and the US Labor Secretary, which are authoritative but represent the company's interests. There is a lack of independent sources or third-party verification, which could enhance the credibility of the claims made.

The absence of diverse sources, such as industry experts or financial analysts, limits the depth of the analysis. Including opinions from economists or labor market experts could provide a more rounded view of the implications of McDonald's hiring strategy and its potential impact on the broader labor market.

5
Transparency

The article does not provide detailed context or methodology for some of the claims made, such as the projected number of new restaurants or the basis for the hiring figures. While it mentions the source of the hiring announcement, it lacks transparency about the underlying data or assumptions driving these plans.

Greater transparency about the sources of economic data, such as the reported decline in same-store sales, and the methodology behind McDonald's expansion plans would enhance the article's credibility. The story could improve by clearly indicating where data originates and how conclusions are drawn.

Sources

  1. https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/mcdonalds-hire-up-375000-workers-summer
  2. https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/mcdonalds-usa-summer-hiring-celebrate-archways-anniversary.html