Dunkin’ hiring 25,000 workers amid coronavirus recovery

Donut-and-coffee chain Dunkin’ said Monday that it would hire around 25,000 employees in the U.S. as states lift restrictions meant to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The company also announced the launch of its first-ever advertising campaign centered around finding new employees and said in a news release that it is introducing a low-cost college degree program for workers.

“Now, as more of America opens up, Dunkin’ franchisees are seeking to hire up to 25,000 new restaurant employees at Dunkin’ locations, from front-counter to restaurant management, creating immediate jobs that offer long-term education benefits and key career skills for people all across the U.S.,” the company said.

“Dunkin’ is beginning a new partnership with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) to offer an online college education to franchise employees, [and] launching its first-ever national advertisement campaign aimed at recruitment,” the release continued.

The news comes as CNBC reports that same-store sales at the company’s open locations had dropped by nearly a quarter as of May, while many other locations had been shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Dunkin’ is committed to keeping America running and working. We are proud to support our franchisees who offer much-needed job opportunities, in a welcoming environment where people can feel appreciated and rewarded for serving both customers and their communities during this critical time,” said Stephanie Lilak, a senior vice president at Dunkin’.

The restaurant industry in particular has been hard-hit by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, and had shed 8 million jobs as of April, according to the National Restaurant Association.