McDonald's looks to hire more over-50s with new recruitment drive

The Telegraph ​reports​​ that he fast food chain has developed a new campaign targeting older workers, with adverts posted by McDonald’s showing a grey-haired worker who “isn’t the retiring type' enjoying their job at the restaurant chain.

A spokesman for McDonald’s said: “We are exceptionally proud of our inclusive and diverse workforce, and our latest recruitment campaign reflects that.

“We have a long history of employing older workers, who are an integral part of our restaurant teams across the UK & Ireland.”

The Office for National Statistics has found that there were 180,000 fewer over 50s in work late last year in comparison to before the Coronavirus pandemic.

Last September, 3.5 million 50-64-year-olds were 'economically inactive', while 362,000 over 50s were unemployed.

McDonald's' latest recruitment drive comes as businesses across the sector remain crippled by staffing shortages.

CGA and Fourth’s second-quarter Business Confidence Survey, published earlier this month​​, found that an average of 11% of hospitality roles are currently vacant — up by two percentages since the first quarter of 2022. Competition for staff has pushed up pay levels too, by an average of 10% in the last 12 months alone.

Meanwhile, the confidence of restaurant, pub and bar leaders has tumbled.

Only 23% of leaders are now confident about the next 12 months for the general market — barely a third of the total of 65% at the last survey in March.