The travel industry added 19,200 jobs in May, rising for the eighth consecutive month and the largest monthly increase since October of last year, reports David Huether, senior vice president for research and economics at the U.S. Travel Association.
Commenting on the May jobs data released today by the U.S. Department of Labor, Huether said the increase in travel employment last month was "diffuse, with increases taking place in almost all key travel-related industries including food services and drinking places, accommodation, air transportation, retail and entertainment/recreation."
"Now standing at a historic high of nearly eight million direct jobs, the travel industry continues to be a leading force in getting Americans back to work. Since losing nearly half a million jobs during the Great Recession, the travel industry has added 749,000 jobs and has outpaced job creation in the rest of the economy by 49 percent," Huether said.
"Recognized last month by the President as an important economic engine for creating good jobs for Americans, the travel industry has the distinctive qualities of being more labor-intensive, more export-engaged, and more immune to offshore outsourcing than many other sectors of the U.S. economy. Travel employment is vital, employing one in nine Americans," Huether said in his analysis.
"And the best news is, there's a way to continue that growth trend. Enacting policies such as the JOLT Act and renewing Brand USA, the public-private partnership that markets the United States as a tourism destination, would increase international visitors to the U.S. and create even more quality jobs," according to Huether.
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