Leisure and Hospitality Snapshot

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:

The leisure and hospitality super sector is made up of two parts: the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector (sector 71), accommodation and food services sector (sector 72).

The arts, entertainment and recreation sector includes a wide range of establishments that operate facilities or provide services to meet varied cultural, entertainment and recreational interests of their patrons. This sector comprises (1) establishments that are involved in producing, promoting or participating in live performances, events or exhibits intended for public viewing; (2) establishments that preserve and exhibit objects and sites of historical, cultural or educational interest; and (3) establishments that operate facilities or provide services that enable patrons to participate in recreational activities or pursue amusement, hobby and leisure-time interests.

The accommodation and food services sector comprises establishments providing customers with lodging and/or preparing meals, snacks and beverages for immediate consumption. The sector includes both accommodation and food services establishments because the two activities are often combined at the same establishment.

Data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program show that, in the economy as a whole: arts, entertainment and recreation represents about 1.4 percent of all employment and about 1.3 percent of all establishments.

Accommodation and food services makes up about 8.0 percent of all employment and is about 6.7 percent of all establishments.

Current Employment Statistics estimates for the 1994 - 2003 period show annual average Leisure and hospitality employment at 10,100,000 at the beginning of the period and at an all-time high of 12,125,000 in 2003.

Average annual employment of non-supervisory workers in leisure and hospitality was 8,979,000 in 1994; in 2003 employment of non-supervisory workers in leisure and hospitality was 10,626,000, on average.

The annual average of the average weekly hours of non-supervisory workers in leisure and hospitality was 25.6 in 2003, well below the average of 33.7 for production and non-supervisory workers in all private industry.

The average hourly earnings of non-supervisory workers in leisure and hospitality were $8.76. in 2003; the average hourly earnings were $15.35 for production and non-supervisory workers in all private industry.

Employment Projections data indicate that leisure and hospitality employment will increase 17.8 percent over the 2002-12 period. Total employment for all industry sectors is projected to increase 14.8 percent.