By 2033, 1 in 8 new jobs will be in this sector

Many of the activities Americans love — like eating out, traveling and recreation — depend on a large workforce. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that the leisure and hospitality sector is growing, adding many new jobs to support these activities! 

BLS projects the U.S. economy to add 6.7 million jobs from 2023 to 2033. Of that, about 1 in 8 will be added in the leisure and hospitality sector — that’s 822,700 new jobs. This is the third largest projected employment increase of all 17 major sectors after professional business services and healthcare and social assistance.

As of 2023, leisure and hospitality recovered all jobs lost in 2020 during the pandemic. Employment is projected to grow from 16.6 million today to 17.4 million jobs by 2033. Within this sector, there are three main industries: accommodation; food service and drinking places; and arts, entertainment, and recreation. Here’s a closer look at those three industries, including the fastest growing jobs within each one:

Food services and drinking places

Demand for convenient food will be a driving factor of employment in food service and drinking places (restaurants, other dining establishments and bars), as people continue to enjoy eating out, buying takeout meals or having food delivered. About 2 out of 3 new leisure and hospitality jobs are projected to be in this industry. That’s 545,700 new jobs, an increase in employment from about 12.2 million to 12.7 million from 2023 to 2033. Over 500,000 of those jobs will be restaurant cooks, fast food and counter workers, and first-line supervisors of food preparation workers.

Most of these jobs require on-the-job training and or work experience in a related occupation to enter. For example, to become a restaurant cook, new entrants typically don’t need a formal education credential, however, they need a combination of work experience and on-the-job training. These jobs also tend to pay less than the 2023 median ($48,060) but wages can vary.

Cooks, restaurant

Projected growth 2023-33: 17.0%

Projected number of jobs added 2023-33: 244,500

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential

Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Fast food and counter workers

Projected growth 2023-33: 5.7%

Projected number of jobs added 2023-33: 212,500

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential

Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation: Short-term on-the-job training 

First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

Projected growth 2023-33: 6.3%

Projected number of jobs added 2023-33: 76,800

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent

Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation: None

Work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years 

Bartenders

Projected growth 2023-33: 8.8%

Projected number of jobs added 2023-33: 64,500

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential

Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation: Short-term on-the-job training

Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

Projected growth 2023-33: 8.3%

Projected number of jobs added 2023-33: 40,900

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential

Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation: Short-term on-the-job training

 

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

The arts, entertainment, and recreation industry is projected to add about 152,300 jobs largely due to the popularity of related experience activities, such as exercise, amusement and outdoor activities. For example, exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is projected to add about 1 out of 3 new jobs in arts, entertainment, and recreation because of increased interests for exercise and fitness activities. 

Fitness trainers and instructors typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation but some may be required to have a certification for the their specialized area of fitness.

Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

Projected growth 2023-33: 13.6%

Projected number of jobs added 2023-33: 47,500

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent

Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation: Short-term on-the-job training

Amusement and recreation attendants

Projected growth 2023-33: 4.5%

Projected number of jobs added 2023-33: 17,100

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential

Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation: Short-term on-the-job training

Recreation workers

Projected growth 2023-33: 5.5%

Projected number of jobs added 2023-33: 16,500

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent

Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation: Short-term on-the-job training

 

Accommodation

Accommodation employment is expected to increase by 124,700 new jobs, mainly because of increased demand for leisure travel. For that reason, most new jobs projected will be in hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks, along with food service occupations such as cooks (see above).

Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

Projected growth 2023-33: 7.0%

Projected number of jobs added 2023-33: 18,900

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent

Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation: Short-term on-the-job training

 

You can find more information about these occupations and hundreds more in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
 

Stanislava Ilic Godfrey is an economist in the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Follow BLS on X at @BLS_gov.