Wed, 11 Apr 2012

US restaurants and eateries have created over 560,000 jobs in the two years to 31 March, with over 200,000 of these coming in the last six months, reports trade body the National Restaurant Association (NRA).

The NRA’s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data also shows that this is the first time on record that restaurants have added more than 100,000 jobs for two consecutive quarters.

In the past 12 months, employment in the sector has grown by 3.2%, compared to 1.5% across the US as a whole. The NRA also projects that the industry, currently employing 12.9m people, will add 1.4m positions in the next decade.

The organisation’s president and chief executive Dawn Sweeney says: “The restaurant industry strongly contributes to the health of our nation’s economy by driving job growth across industry segments, and providing rewarding career and employment opportunities for millions.”