Waiters and Waitresses

Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.

The occupation "Waiters and Waitresses" has an automation risk of 42.5%, which is based closely on its base risk score of 43.0%. This suggests that while a significant portion of the work associated with waiting tables could potentially be automated, more than half of the tasks remain resistant to automation technologies. The slightly reduced risk reflects the interplay between tasks that can be easily handled by machines and those that require a human touch or context-sensitive judgment. Service industries like restaurants often involve unpredictable human interactions and situational needs that automation finds difficult to replicate. While technology such as self-order kiosks and robotic servers can streamline some elements of the dining experience, many aspects require adaptability and empathy. The top three most automatable tasks for waiters and waitresses are "Take orders from patrons for food or beverages," "Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems," and "Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages." These tasks are relatively structured and repetitive, making them ideal candidates for automation by digital interfaces or AI-driven systems. Kiosks and mobile ordering apps can already handle much of the order-taking process, while digital surveys and alert systems could check in with patrons. Even age verification can increasingly be managed through digital ID scanning or facial recognition technology, reducing the necessity for a human intermediary. In contrast, the tasks most resistant to automation include "Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving," "Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions," and "Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee." These tasks often require fine motor skills, creativity, and the ability to handle unexpected guest inquiries or complicated preparation steps. The relatively low bottleneck skill level of "Originality" (2.1%) indicates that while creativity is not overwhelmingly critical for this job, there are still important moments where it matters, particularly with food presentation and personalized guest assistance. Thus, while automation will continue to transform the role, a substantial human element is likely to remain necessary for the foreseeable future.