Based on the most recent 2026 industry analyses, the number one issue foodservice providers are facing in 2026  is labor shortage and rising labor costs. Why labor is the top challenge Multiple authoritative industry forecasts point to labor as the most persistent and intensifying pressure on operators: Technomic’s 2026 U.S. Foodservice Trend Predictions  explicitly identify the “Next Wave: Labor Crunch ,” noting that the “everlasting struggle for labor will become even more