September marked industry’s strongest employment gain in months
📈 September 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a rise in unemployment to 4.4% despite 119,000 new jobs added. Restaurants gained 68,000 jobs in Q3, marking the strongest six-month gain, though job growth remains sluggish. Employment in eating and drinking places is up 144,000 jobs (1.2%) from pre-pandemic levels. Limited-service roles increased 23% since February 2020. However, consumer spending in the industry is slowing, with expectations of continued decline into early 2026.
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