Report: Leisure, Hospitality Accounts for 39% of Jobs Lost to Pandemic

Approximately 39% of all U.S. jobs lost since February of last year are in the Leisure & Hospitality industry, according to analysis of the latest Department of Labor national jobs report. The number is triple that of the next-hardest-hit industry.

The U.S. economy created 49,000 jobs in January, according to the report. But, according to analysis created for the U.S. Travel Association by research firm Tourism Economics, the Leisure & Hospitality sector lost 61,000 jobs last month. Without the decline in Leisure & Hospitality jobs, the U.S. would have gained 110,000 jobs overall. It was the second month in a row that the Leisure & Hospitality sector lost jobs despite overall U.S. employment gains.

“The math is pretty easy: the U.S. economy won’t get back on track until the Leisure & Hospitality sector is back on track, and that’s going to take aggressive policy actions,” said Roger Dow, CEO at the U.S. Travel Association. “Safely restarting travel needs to become a national priority, which means not only relief measures but pressing ahead on vaccinations and continuing to emphasize best health practices. This is an all-hands-on-deck problem, with the government, industry and also the public having important roles to play.”

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