Restaurant Job Growth Outpaces Overall Economy
WASHINGTON -- Restaurant industry job growth remains broad-based on the state level, with employment gains outpacing the overall economy in the vast majority of states. Colorado leads the way with a 6.3% increase in jobs through September, while Ohio and Pennsylvania are closer to the bottom of the list with increases of 1.9% and 2.3%, respectively.
Colorado, which is on pace to register its strongest annual increase in restaurant employment since 1995, is followed by solid gains in Oklahoma (5.6%) and Georgia (5%), according to the Bruce Grindy, economist at the National Restaurant Association. On a year-to-date basis through September, restaurants added jobs in 45 of the 47 states for which figures are available.
In terms of total jobs added, Texas set the pace with a net increase of 39,900 restaurant jobs on a year-to-date basis through September. The California restaurant industry added a net 35,900 jobs, while Florida’s restaurants added 26,600 jobs. Ohio added 8,000 jobs during the period, while Pennsylvania added 8,700.
Wyoming and Vermont were the only states to experience declines in restaurant employment through the first nine months of this year.
On the national level, eating and drinking places added jobs at a 3% rate on a year-to-date basis through September 2014, more than a full percentage-point above the 1.8% gain in total U.S. employment.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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