WASHINGTON,
DC - May 7, 2012 – David
Huether, senior vice president of economics and research at the U.S.
Travel
Association, provides analysis on today's Labor Department report on April 2012 employment numbers
:
- "The
U.S. travel industry continues to be one of the prime drivers of our
nation's
economic recovery, adding 7,000 new American jobs in April, bringing
total
direct employment to 7,581,000. Travel job growth was driven by the
restaurants, lodging and airline sectors, offsetting declines in
amusements,
gambling and recreation.
- "Travel-generated employment has risen by 48,700 in the
first four months
of 2012, contributing 6.1 percent of all non-farm jobs added during the
same
period. "Yet even amidst this growth, barriers to travel abound – from
airport security hassles and crumbling infrastructure to high fuel
costs and a
visa system that can deter overseas travelers from visiting the U.S.
- "Reducing or eliminating these barriers will strengthen our
economy and
create jobs by encouraging more Americans to travel the country and
welcoming
more international visitors to come to the U.S."
Huether is available for further analysis and
comment.
The U.S. Travel
Association is the national, non-profit organization
representing all
components of the travel industry that generates $1.9 trillion in
economic
output and supports 14.4 million jobs. U.S. Travel's mission is to
increase
travel to and within the United States. Visit www.ustravel.org.
Follow us on Twitter @ustravel
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