Restaurant Manager

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Restaurant and Food Service Managers (0631) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Restaurant and Food Service Managers (A221) 
• 2011 NOC: Restaurant and food service managers (0631) 
• 2016 NOC: Restaurant and food service managers (0631) 
• 2021 NOC: Restaurant and food service managers (60030) 

The specific duties performed by restaurant managers depend on the nature of the establishments they manage. In general, restaurant managers:

• Consult with chefs to select menu items that will appeal to customers and make efficient use of food supplies
• Assign prices to menu items
• Develop wine and liquor lists appropriate to menus
• Estimate supplies needed, order supplies and deal with food, beverage and equipment suppliers and their representatives
• Recruit and train new employees, schedule work hours and keep employment records
• Oversee the daily operations of the restaurant to ensure health and safety regulations and policies are met
• Ensure that maintenance and decor standards are met
• Supervise restaurant staff
• Maintain friendly contact with customers and resolve customer complaints
• Develop marketing strategies and supervise advertising campaigns
• Track the overall profitability of the restaurant and forecast revenues
• Prepare budgets and manage finances, including maintaining records of costs and payments made to suppliers, balancing daily cash received with records of sales, and depositing daily income for safekeeping

In large restaurants or hotel chains, restaurant managers may delegate many tasks to other employees, such as assistant managers or executive chefs. Smaller restaurants may combine the positions of executive chef and restaurant manager. In fast food restaurants and other food service facilities, restaurant managers may have several assistant managers, each of whom supervises a different shift.

The working conditions for restaurant managers vary as much as the establishments they operate. Evening and weekend work is common. The work can be hectic during peak dining hours. Dealing with customer complaints or problem employees can be stressful.

Most restaurant managers are employed in privately owned restaurants, clubs and hotels. Many own their establishments.

Restaurant managers who have related post-secondary education usually advance relatively quickly and may qualify for further advancement to district manager and top executive positions in large organizations. Or, they may move into sales representative positions for food service supply companies or become managers of private clubs.

Restaurant managers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 0631: Restaurant and food service managers. In Alberta, 91% of people employed in this classification work in the Accommodation and Food Services [pdf] industry.

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• Trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Accommodation and Food Services industry)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation

In Alberta, the 0631: Restaurant and food service managers occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.1% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 326 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals website: cafp.ca

emerit website: emerit.ca

National Restaurant Association [United States] website: www.restaurant.org

ProServe Liquor Staff Training website: proserve.aglc.ca

Restaurants Canada website: www.restaurantscanada.org

Tourism HR Canada website: tourismhr.ca

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