Employment Trends in Food Service and Accommodations
The accommodation and food services sector once seemed impossible – demand was so high in 2021 that monthly gains regularly topped 100,000 new jobs. Gains remained steady in 2022, but this year the service sector has experienced some slowing. In June, the sector added just 4,700 net new jobs – much lower than the 90,000 jobs added just six months prior in January.
Within the larger subsector, food services lost jobs for the first time since December 2020, shedding 800 positions. The food services industry has been a strong source of growth for the U.S. labor market and larger economy. Consumers turned to dining out with a vengeance after the pandemic lockdown, but the decline in food service jobs in June could mean employers are feeling more comfortable with their current workforces than before. The accommodation sector gained a comfortable 5,500 jobs. This subsector is still far below its pre-pandemic employment levels, so there remains room to grow, even if consumer spending slows some.
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