CHICAGO, December 3, 2025 — With 77% of food-away-from-home outlets employing foreign-born workers, the Trump Administration’s roundup of illegal immigrants is forcing operators to rethink what’s in their supply chain, according to new research.
The survey of 415 foodservice establishments revealed that nearly 1 in 5 (17%) are having a more difficult time filling jobs because of the immigration crackdown. The challenge is particularly daunting when hiring for kitchen positions, with 28% of respondents reporting their back-of-house recruitment efforts have been strained by the raids and deportations.
That compares with 18% who said they are having a more difficult time in finding front-of-house workers because of the White House’s immigration policies.
The study, prepared by the researcher Datassential on behalf of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, suggests the industry’s supply of labor would be drum-tight even without the deportation of immigrants lacking the documentation to work in the U.S.
About 75% of the operator-respondents characterized their efforts to recruit back-of-house workers as difficult. Hiring dining-room workers was adjudged slightly easier, with 67% describing the effort as difficult.
The report shows that operators are rethinking how they run their kitchens in response to the situation. Respondents were asked to project how they might purchase differently in the future. Their responses showed strengthening interest in such labor-saving products as speed-scratch items, or products that have been pre-prepared to some degree but taste and look as if they were made in-house from scratch.
The participating operators cited some 15 kitchen and operational changes they’re considering in response to the situation.
There is a silver lining to the situation for suppliers, according to Datassential. They have an opportunity to strengthen relations and form a true partnership with customers by helping with employee training and suggesting products that can be produced more efficiently, the researcher concluded.
The study is the latest report from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association’s Consumer and Operator Research Group. Past topics have included the influence of GLP-1 drugs on menus; how foodservice distribution is changing; and why consumers switch restaurant brands.
All of the studies can be found here.