Restaurants To Add More Than A Half-Million Summer Jobs, According To National Restaurant Association Projections

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May 22, 2014, 02:19 ET

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Restaurants are expected to add 508,000 jobs this summer season, according to National Restaurant Association projections released today. The projected 2014 gain would represent the second consecutive year in which restaurants add at least 500,000 jobs during the summer season.

"Summer is the busiest season for restaurants in most parts of the country, and the uptick in business creates additional job opportunities at all levels of a restaurant operation," said Bruce Grindy, chief economist for the Association. "In many states with tourism-driven economies, restaurants are prime destinations for both tourists and job-seekers."

"Driven by an improving economy and consumers' elevated levels of pent-up demand for restaurants, 2014 will represent only the second summer on record with a gain of at least a half-million restaurant jobs," Grindy added. "Eating and drinking places added a record 538,800 summer jobs in 2013, which easily eclipsed the previous high of 465,400 summer jobs added in 2011."

The states projected to add the most eating and drinking place jobs during the 2014 summer season are California (47,600), New York (46,300), Massachusetts (30,400), New Jersey (28,000), Texas (27,200), Ohio (22,400) and Michigan (21,600).

The states projected to register the largest proportional employment increase during the 2014 summer season are Maine (33.2 percent increase), Alaska (21.0 percent increase), Delaware (18.0 percent increase), New Hampshire (16.5 percent increase) and Rhode Island (15.7 percent increase).

The restaurant industry is usually the nation's second-largest creator of summer jobs, ranking only behind the construction industry.

Summer employment is defined as the average number of eating and drinking place jobs in June, July and August. The number of summer jobs is the difference between the projected total 2014 summer employment and the March 2014 employment level. Generally, the U.S. restaurant industry begins to ramp up its summer seasonal hiring in April, and it peaks in June, July and August. Eating and drinking places account for approximately three-fourths of the total restaurant and foodservice workforce.

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 990,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of more than 13.5 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show May 17-20, 2014, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.