In a bid to boost job retention rates among restaurant employees, the National Restaurant Association has launched a new career development tool for people who want to pursue long-term careers in the industry.

ServSuccess will feature three levels of professional certification, online training and assessments, NRA said in a statement. The tool will also help employees understand the type of roles available in the restaurant industry, assess their readiness for those roles and chart a path toward achieving their career goals.

NRA noted the restaurant industry is expected to add 1.6 million career opportunities in the next decade. Employee turnover is a potentially expensive problem for restaurants, costing businesses $2,000 per front-of-house and back-of-house employee and almost $15,000 per manager position, the group said.

"ServSuccess will empower people and businesses to aim for and achieve even higher levels of career success in the foodservice industry," NRA CEO Dawn Sweeney said in a statement. "Restaurant employees will be able to use their years of experience to jumpstart their professional advancement by validating their skills and knowledge. For restaurant operators, it provides the training and workforce solutions to grow business and service to their communities."

The ServSuccess website offers several products for sale, ranging from online courses to certification exams. It also offers self-assessment tools for people who want to know if they qualify for certain restaurant positions.

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