Texas Restaurant Association

06/13/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/13/2025 14:35

Official Statement - Critical Industries

Official Statement - Critical Industries

The Texas Restaurant Association applauds President Trump for his recent statements indicating that his administration is working on executive orders to ensure critical industries like agriculture and hospitality can employ vetted immigrants to fill job vacancies. Because restaurants are an essential component of our food supply and our economy, we are ready to partner with the Trump White House to ensure these orders include restaurants and our food production supply chain.
Importantly, this plan would help address the ongoing labor shortage by allowing only vetted immigrants-those who pass a background check and pay taxes-to work in critical industries that need additional staffing to keep prices down and provide excellent service for all Americans.

Recent data underscores just how urgent that need is:

  • Despite average restaurant wages increasing by 30% since 2019:
    • 47% of Texas restaurant operators say they currently have job openings that are difficult to fill
    • 21% of Texas operators say their restaurant doesn't have enough employees to support existing customer demand
    • 89% of Texas operators say they will likely hire additional employees during the next 6-12 months if there are qualified applicants available
  • Average food costs are up over 35% from 2019

Shoring up the foodservice workforce is about more than individual restaurants. As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, shelves quickly go bare if key segments of the food supply chain are not adequately staffed. Further, these executive orders to secure the food workforce will create a stronger economy for all Americans. In Texas alone, the foodservice industry generates nearly $138 billion in sales, with every dollar spent in a Texas restaurant generating $1.99 to the state's economy. The Texas Restaurant Association appreciates the opportunity to strengthen our workforce and the economic stability of all Americans through the executive orders that President Trump is developing.

Texas Restaurant Association published this content on June 13, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 13, 2025 at 20:35 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io