A hiring sign hangs in the window of a Chipotle in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Heads up, tech workers. Chipotle is looking for fresh talent.
The fast casual chain is planning to hire 15,000 employees ahead of "burrito season." The period runs from March to May, culminating in Cinco de Mayo, and is the company's busiest time of year. The hiring spree coincides with a massive expansion in North America.
"Our restaurant teams are the core of this organization and with a goal of more than doubling our footprint to 7,000 locations in North America, we are targeting employees today to serve as our leaders of tomorrow," said Scott Boatwright, chief restaurant officer, in a press release. "We will continue bringing in new crew to support Chipotle's aggressive growth plans, while simultaneously promoting and upskilling those currently in role."
The recruitment campaign coincides with existing television spots featuring behind-the-scenes footage of working at the restaurant.
"Our goal is to develop and retain diverse talent at every level of the organization and be the employer of choice," Boatwright said.
The average hourly wage for Chipotle crew members in New York City is $17.10, according to Indeed. In San Francisco, a tech hub, the average rate is $16.19 per hour.
Amid 2021's tight labor market, the company announced plans to gradually raise its starting wage to $15 per hour. Since then, U.S. inflation has caused real average hourly earnings to fall 1.7 across industries.
In its press release, Chipotle touted opportunities for new employees to advance their careers, noting that 90 percent of all restaurant management roles were internal promotions.
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