Quickservice operators are driving industry job growth

Restaurant industry job growth continues to outstrip the overall economy, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eating and drinking places – the primary component of the restaurant industry which accounts for roughly three-fourths of the total restaurant and foodservice workforce – added a net 21,200 jobs in August on a seasonally-adjusted basis, the 31st consecutive month in which the industry added more than 10,000 jobs.

Although employment gains within the restaurant industry have been generally broad based, quickservice operators added the most net new jobs in recent months. On a year-to-date basis through July 2013, the quickservice segment added jobs at a robust 4.7 percent rate, which is well above the 3.3 percent gain in the overall eating-and-drinking place segment. This translates to quickservice operators being responsible for more than half of the total increase in restaurant jobs over the last year.

The snack and nonalcoholic beverage bar segment – including coffee, donut and ice cream shops – posted similar growth, adding jobs at a 4.3 percent rate on a year-to-date basis through July.

Foodservice contractors (managed service providers) posted the strongest industry job growth in percentage terms, with payrolls expanding at a robust 7.0 percent rate through July.

Meanwhile, the fullservice restaurant segment added jobs at a 2.2 percent rate on a year-to-date basis through July 2013, which is still more than half-percentage-point above job growth in the overall economy during the same period.

The cafeteria/grill buffets/buffets segment was the only major category to shed jobs in recent months, as payrolls fell 3.3 percent year-to-date through July.