By Evie Liu

Chipotle is hiring thousands of new employees in the coming months, using a tool powered by artificial intelligence to make the process more efficient.

Chipotle Mexican Grill said on Wednesday that it is looking to hire 20,000 employees to ensure its more than 3,700 restaurants are fully staffed for the so-called burrito season, from March to May. That is its busiest time of the year.

The company has been hiring aggressively over the past few years as it continues to expand its footprint with a long-term goal of 7,000 restaurants in North America. Last burrito season, it looked to hire 19,000 staff members, while in 2023, the target was 15,000 employees.

This year, Chipotle is working with the help of an AI-powered virtual team member called Ava Cado. The bot can chat with candidates, answer their questions about Chipotle, collect basic information, schedule interviews with hiring managers, and send offers.

Since its launch in October, Ava Cado has shortened the average time it takes for a candidate to complete their application and start on the job from 12 days to just four days, the company said. The completion rate for job applications has risen to more than 85% from 50%.

Companies are increasingly using AI to help find and hire talent, from sourcing candidates and screening resumes to managing the hiring workflow. Many have developed chatbots similar to Chipotle's Ava Cado, while some use machine-learning algorithms to help potential candidates find roles that align with their skills and interests.

Between 35% and 45% of companies have already adopted AI in their hiring processes, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. The AI recruitment sector is projected to expand at a 6.2% annual rate through 2030, the group says.

To help attract talent, Chipotle also released three new national TV ads featuring employees that have been promoted from jobs as crew members to restaurant management, seeking to show that jobs at the chain offer a potential career path.

"Burrito Season presents candidates with an opportunity to start here, stay here, and reach their career goals with us," said Ilene Eskenazi, Chipotle's chief human resources officer, in a statement.

Chipotle promoted 23,000 team members in 2024. Internal promotions accounted for 85% of the restaurant-management roles it filled, according to the company. Five of 11 regional vice presidents at the chain began their careers at Chipotle, it said.

Write to Evie Liu at evie.liu@barrons.com

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February 19, 2025 08:05 ET (13:05 GMT)

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