The job market in the United States continued to show strength in various industries last month, with notable growth in sectors such as health care, government, construction, and now, restaurants and bars. According to the latest data from the Labor Department, the private education and health services sector emerged as the top job creator in September, adding a significant 81,000 jobs to the economy. Within this sector, the health care industry played a key role by contributing 45,000 jobs, particularly in areas such as home health care services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities.
Surprisingly, the leisure and hospitality sector also experienced substantial payroll growth in September, with an increase of 78,000 employees. This growth is noteworthy as hiring in this sector had been relatively subdued over the past six months. The surge in employment was primarily driven by restaurants and bars, which accounted for 69,000 of the new jobs created last month.
The significant rise in hiring within the restaurant and bar industry in September far exceeded the average monthly gain of 14,000 jobs seen over the previous 12 months, as highlighted by the government's report. This surge can be attributed to healthy consumer spending on food services, as indicated by data from the Commerce Department, reflecting a positive trend in the industry in recent months.
