Nationally, employment growth in leisure and hospitality slowed
considerably in 2008, and employment levels declined through
the fourth quarter, beginning in October.
··Over-the-year employment growth had been relatively
stable in 2006 and 2007, growing at an annual average
of about 294,000 workers a year. In 2008, leisure and
hospitality grew by 67,300 workers.
··The entire employment decline for
2008 occurred in the fourth quarter
with 449,300 jobs lost.
21
FIGURE
Over-the-year (OTY) change in private-sector
employment in leisure and hospitality, 2005–2008
Thousands
400,000
OTY employment change 2005–2006
350,000
300,000
250,000
OTY employment change 2006–2007
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
–50,000
–100,000
–150,000
–200,000
–250,000
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment and Wages Annual Averages, 2008 • 41
OTY employment change 2007–2008
www.bls.gov/cew