Restaurants rehired nearly 1.4 million workers in May. Here’s why that number may be less impressive than it sounds.

1.37 million jobs returned to the restaurant industry in May, according to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, this number is not necessarily indicative of a strong recovery in the restaurant industry. Seasonality, Paycheck Protection Program loans, and stimulus checks may have all played a role in rehiring, meaning the jobs gains may not be permanent. The restaurant industry still faces significant barriers to recovery, and as long as dining rooms are required to operate at limited capacity, the eight million restaurant jobs lost during the pandemic won’t fully return. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for