Mcdonald’s is to employ 50 extra staff in Northern Ireland as part of a wider recruitment drive during 2012.
The fast food chain announced yesterday 2,500 new jobs in the UK this year and it expects at least half of the positions to go to young people under the age of 25 and around 30% to first-time workers.
There are currently 26 McDonald’s restaurants employing 1,900 people across Northern Ireland.
Over the last three years McDonald’s has created 13,500 posts in the UK and the new jobs will bring the total UK workforce to 90,000.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he was delighted to welcome McDonald’s latest announcement.
“McDonald’s has a great record in investing in the UK and providing excellent training, apprenticeships and opportunities for its staff,” he said.
Joanne Jones, director of franchising in Northern Ireland, said: “The job market for young people just starting out in their careers is particularly tough, so it’s important for us to be able to offer them the chance of a job.
“As a business our emphasis on high quality, good value food has meant that we are able to continue to invest in the business and our people.”
Over a five-year period, McDonald’s has awarded almost 35,000 qualifications to staff, from maths and English certificates to foundation degrees.
It wants to build on this figure during 2012, in an effort to support the growing number of its employees who choose to study while working.
Ms Jones added: “We have a fantastic education programme in place that we have worked hard to build in the last five years, meaning that all of our people have the chance to learn whilst they earn.
“Gaining nationally recognised qualifications such as an apprenticeship whilst getting experience in the world of work means that we can give young people a good grounding whether they stay and progress through the company or move on elsewhere.”
90,000
McDonald’s total UK workforce after creating 13,500 posts in 3 years