AUSTIN, Texas – Food delivery driver is now the most in-demand hospitality job in the United States, according to new OysterLink data, even as gas prices climb to a multiyear high of $4.56 per gallon as of May 21.
OysterLink tracked 4,922 food delivery driver job postings in April, more than any other hospitality role. Fast food worker ranked second with 4,231 postings, followed by housekeeper (3,696) and restaurant manager (3,583).
The trend comes as fuel prices have increased amid rising crude oil costs linked to instability around the Strait of Hormuz. According to AAA, the national average for regular gasoline recently reached $4.56 per gallon, up roughly $1.38 year-over-year.
The data points to a growing reliance on delivery across the hospitality industry, even as fuel costs make driving jobs more expensive.
“There’s a contradiction at the center of the delivery economy right now. Drivers are facing higher fuel and maintenance costs, yet businesses still need more of them,” said Milos Eric, general manager at OysterLink. “That tension is becoming one of the defining labor challenges for hospitality in 2026.”
The data also showed high posting volume for operational restaurant roles, including cook (3,055), dishwasher (3,009), busser (2,144) and prep cook (1,872). Meanwhile, roles such as fine dining server (395) and sommelier (279) had comparatively fewer postings.