Travel Employment Increases for Fourth Consecutive Month in November

Travel employment continued its expansion by adding 15,800 jobs in November, according to analysis of today’s employment report by U.S. Travel economists. The job gains occurred mostly in lodging, food services/drinking places and the amusement/gambling/recreation industry. 

In the first 11 months of 2019, travel job growth has averaged 10,300 per month, which is higher than the 8,900 jobs added per month during the same period in 2018. 

So far this year, overall employment growth slowed compared to 2018, but travel employment growth has accelerated. As a result, travel’s contribution to employment growth has been higher in 2019 compared to 2018: travel accounted for 5.7% of total nonfarm job growth in the first months of 2019, compared to 4% during the same period last year.  

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 266,000, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.5% in November.