A. Lee Graham Reporter
Texas is among states expected to add the most restaurant and bar jobs this summer, according to newly released National Restaurant Association projections. Restaurants are expected to add 448,000 jobs this summer, a 4.5 percent increase over the March 2013 employment level, according to association research. Summer employment is defined as the average number of eating and drinking place jobs in June, July and August. “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 with the association, commenting in a news release. “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,” Grindy said. Nationally, eating and drinking establishments added 427,200 jobs in summer 2012, 465,400 jobs during summer 2011, and 427,100 jobs during summer 2010. The restaurant industry usually trails only the construction industry for creating the most summer jobs. “In many states with tourism-driven economies, restaurants satisfy both tourists’ cravings for food, as well as job-seekers’ hunger for employment,” Grindy added. 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). 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). Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is a business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 980,000 restaurant and food-service outlets and a workforce of more than 13 million employees. More information is available at www.restaurant.org. Â