NEWPORT – Ocean State restaurants will increase their summer workforce by 17%, according to national projections, placing Rhode Island among the top four states in the U.S. for proportional employment increase in the sector.
The increase, predicted in the National Restaurant Association’s annual Eating and Drinking Place Summer Employment Forecast, is a slight increase over previous years, but remains in line with statewide industry expectations, said Farouk Rajab, CEO and president of the R.I. Hospitality Association.
“New England in general always registers the highest influx in seasonal employment,” Rajab said. In Rhode Island, that summer increase typically settles at 12-17% before returning to baseline as colder weather approaches.
Despite this year's anticipated increase falling at the higher end of Rhode Island's typical expectations, the Ocean State will contend against a nationwide consumer pullback in restaurant spending: Tuesday, the U.S. Commerce Department reported that restaurant spending fell by 0.9% month-over-month, marking the most sizable decrease since February 2023.
Observers, including Rajab, attribute this decrease to Trump administration tariffs and overall geopolitical instability.
“The uncertainty in the political and economic environment causes people to hold back from going out to restaurants and traveling for leisure,” Rajab said. “Even business travel has been down due to geopolitical issues. A lot of government travel has been reduced, and conferences have been canceled.”
The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau did not immediately respond to an inquiry on local cancelations and financial impacts.
Rhode Island’s independent restaurants, which typically operate on a thin margin of profit, are “doing their best not to reflect [increased expenses] in their menu prices,” Rajab said.
Still, Rajab remains “hopeful that we’re going to have a decent season this summer,” he says.
Rajab also highlighted Sky Haneul Kim of Gift Horse restaurant, who was named Best Chef in the Northeast at the 2025 James Beard Awards on Monday, and expressed optimism that such accolades will help bolster Rhode Island's dining profile.
“I’m not going to say it’s doom and gloom,” Rajab said, “but we have to be cautious about expenses, because expenses continue to climb up and costs continue to increase for [restaurant] operations.”
Jacquelyn Voghel is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Voghel@PBN.com.
