Good news for job seekers out there who are looking for a summer job. According to National Restaurant Association (NRA) projections report released Thursday, restaurants are expected to add 448,000 jobs this summer season, a 4.5-percent increase over the March 2013 employment level
The estimated number represents an improvement over the 2012 summer season, according to a statement released by the NRA.
"Summer is the busiest season for restaurants in most parts of the country, and the stronger business leads to additional employment opportunities at all levels of a restaurant operation," said Bruce Grindy, chief economist for the NRA. "The projected addition of 448,000 summer restaurant jobs will be driven by a national economy that continues to improve, as well as consumers' pent-up demand for restaurant services that remains at historically high levels."
Restaurants added 427,200 jobs across the nation during the 2012 summer season, 465,400 jobs during the 2011 summer season, and 427,100 jobs during the 2010 summer season. The restaurant industry is usually the nation's second-largest creator of summer jobs, ranking only behind the construction industry.
"In many states with tourism-driven economies, restaurants satisfy both tourists' cravings for food, as well as job-seekers' hunger for employment," Grindy added.
The states projected to add the most eating and drinking place jobs during the 2013 summer season are California (41,700), New York (40,700), Massachusetts (29,000), Texas (22,000), New Jersey (21,900), Michigan (21,200), Ohio (21,000) and Illinois (20,000).
The states projected to register the largest proportional employment increase during the 2013 summer season are Maine (31.2 percent increase), Alaska (22.5 percent increase), Delaware (16.8 percent increase) and Rhode Island (15.6 percent increase).
