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Coffee, donut, ice cream shops leading employment gains

Job growth within the restaurant industry was broad-based in the first half of 2015, with several of the major segments registering strong gains.

July 8, 2015

The National Restaurant Association's Chief Economist Bruce Grindy has released a statement that job growth accelerated in June, according to preliminary figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

"Eating and drinking places added a net 29,900 jobs in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the strongest monthly gain since February," he said. "Meanwhile, job growth in the overall economy came in close to expectations in June.  The economy added a net 223,000 jobs in June, which followed mixed results during the first five months of the year. 

Choppy growth defined the first half of the year, Grindy said, but the restaurant industry and overall economy are on track to improve on 2014 employment gains.  Total U.S. employment was up 2.2 percent through this June compared to last June and up from the 1.9 percent gain posted in 2014. If the current trends hold, it will be the nation’s strongest annual employment gain since 1999.

“For eating and drinking places, the 3.7 percent year-to-date growth puts the restaurant industry on track to register its fourth consecutive year with job growth of at least 3.5 percent. In addition, it would represent the 16th consecutive year in which restaurant industry job growth outpaced the overall economy," Grindy said. "Job growth within the restaurant industry was broad-based in the first half of 2015, with several of the major segments registering strong gains."

Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars, including coffee, donut and ice cream shops, lead sector employment gains at a 6.4 percent year-over-year increase. Quickservice restaurants (3.8 percent) and tableservice restaurants (3.5 percent) job rates were well above the overall economy during the first five months of the year, according to Grindy.