The news: Burger King plans to hire as many as 60,000 employees across its 6,500-plus US restaurants to build on the success of its Reclaim the Flame turnaround plan. The company is hiring across a range of roles, from entry-level jobs to management positions.

What it means: The hiring spree is notable for several reasons.

It shows Burger King’s recovery is gaining traction. The fast-food chain credited its modernized restaurants, deeper focus on the guest experience, and its recent Whopper refresh for reviving traffic to its stores. That has created an “immediate need” for more staff, the company said.

It runs counter to broader QSR trends. Interest in dining out has fallen as consumers contend with cost-of-living pressures—a trend that will only intensify as rising gas and energy costs eat into household budgets.

It could help reignite momentum in the labor market. Burger King’s staffing plans could pressure competitors to hire more workers of their own, which may help revive job growth at an otherwise challenging time.

The implications: With nearly half (47%) of consumers decreasing spending at fast-food restaurants following a poor customer experience and another 15% cutting spending altogether, according to a Qualtrics XM global survey, the pressure is on operators to address service gaps quickly—or risk losing customers and sales.

Burger King’s expanded hiring efforts highlight its recognition that staffing is vital to ensure operational consistency and a quality customer experience. That in turn improves the chance of conversions and helps build loyalty, setting the chain up for longer-term success.