The restaurant industry continues to be a solid generator of jobs in the U.S. economy, according to a monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Restaurants added 20,400 jobs in September, bringing the total number of new industry positions over the past year to 289,600.
Overall, non-farm payroll grew by 248,000 jobs last month, and unemployment dropped below 6 percent for the first time since 2008. In addition to restaurants, industries with robust job growth in September included professional and business services, retail and health care.
“September’s job growth is an additional sign that national economic expansion continues,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of research for the National Restaurant Association. “Strong employment ultimately leads to improved cash-on-hand situation for consumers, and there has always been a strong correlation between disposable income and restaurant spending more of the former typically means more of the latter.”
“Higher levels of employment also add to consumers’ need for convenience of food away from home, as well as aid overall consumer confidence,” he said.
