The California Restaurant Association, California, and Orange County restaurants are celebrating California’s diversity data from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey:
- Among waitstaff (front-of-house restaurant workers): statewide in California, nearly 64 percent are people of color. That number includes workers who are Hispanic, African-American or Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, and multi-racial.
- Among chefs, a senior role in restaurants, more than 80 percent are people of color. That includes the same demographics listed above.
- Among managers, nearly 70 percent are people of color. That number includes the same demographics listed above.
- Most notably, 60% of California restaurants are owned by people of color, as compared to 45% of all California private-sector businesses. This figure references owners who are Hispanic; Asian/Pacific Islander; and African-American or Black.
“It’s hard to overstate how proud we are to share these facts,” said California Restaurant Association President and CEO, Jot Condie. “Restaurant managers know that their workplaces are diverse, but it’s eye-opening to see the overall, statewide data. What it tells us is that these businesses aren’t hiring minorities just so they can check off a box on an HR form – they are actively promoting minorities and women to leadership roles and also helping open pathways to entrepreneurship. It’s really how every industry should work.”
