The creation of the new jobs follows a £95m investment in new restaurants and refurbishments last year, and will take the current McDonald’s UK workforce to 100,000 – making it one of the UK’s biggest private sector employers.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne MP, who met with McDonald’s apprentices at 11 Downing Street today, welcomed the news that the fast food chain would be expanding its workforce.
“It is fantastic news that McDonald’s is creating 8,000 new jobs here in the UK, especially with the majority going to first-time workers and under 25s,” he said.
“Every new person in work means a brighter future and more economic security for them and their family.”
McDonald’s jobs
According to a new report from the company, McDonald’s has created over 1.5m jobs and contributed over £40bn to the economy since it arrived in the UK in 1974.
McDonald’s is also a major employer of young people, with two thirds of the company’s workforce between the ages of 16-25.
Since 2006, the company has given 16,600 apprenticeships, with over 8,000 staff achieving a level 3 diploma in shift management and 130 managers graduating with a degree qualification accredited by Manchester Metropolitan University.
McDonald’s UK chief executive Jill McDonald said: “Our continued growth will enable us to further expand our workforce over the next few years, and in many cases give thousands of young people a valuable opportunity to start building their careers.
“The foundations we have laid will help us make the right decisions for the future whether it’s continuing to invest in the customer experience, leading the way on support for British Farming, or employing and training even more people.”
Workforce cliff
Despite its plans to increase its workforce, McDonald's is not immune to the recruitment challenges facing the wider hospitality industry.
In April, the company's chief people officer David Fairhurst warned it was beginning to feel the effects of the 'workforce cliff' - with not enough young people seeking careers in hospitality and too many older people leaving.
"The workforce is shrinking at both ends of the spectrum," he told the Times.
Looking for a job in hospitality? Check out our dedicated jobs board - jobs.bighospitality.co.uk - for the latest vacancies across restaurants, hotels, pubs, clubs and bars.