U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics January employment report, which saw the overall economy add 517,000 jobs and the leisure and hospitality sector add 128,000 jobs—more than any other sector:
“Today’s jobs report—in which 25% of all new jobs were added in the leisure and hospitality sector—is further evidence that travel is essential to the U.S. economy. Travel’s success is the nation’s success, and robust travel demand is supercharging our nation’s economic recovery and job growth.
“The industry currently has nearly 2 million open jobs despite returning to pre-pandemic employment levels. Bringing more temporary workers to the United States—in addition to enacting other priorities to spur travel demand and growth—should be a top priority for the federal government.”
