KFC says that by 2030, a third of all its new hires in the UK will be young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The fast food chain predicts the move will help about 6,000 people get their first job, at a time when the hospitality industry is grappling with staff shortages.
KFC has about 950 restaurants across the UK.
Economists welcomed the pledge but said more needed to be done to keep young people in the workplace.
KFC said the programme, developed with the charity UK Youth, is intended to help tackle unemployment among young people.