Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% As Hospitality Industry Reports Slowed Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ December jobs report revealed that 199,000 jobs were added to the economy last month and the unemployment rate dropped to 3.9% from 4.2% in November.

While those numbers represent a positive trend, the gains slowed compared to previous months, likely due in part to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Restaurant and bar employment continued to increase throughout December, though at a slower pace than previous months.

“The number of unemployed persons decreased by 483,000 to 6.3 million,” the report said. “In February 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate was 3.5%, and unemployed persons numbered 5.7 million.”

Bruce Grindy, chief economist at the National Restaurant Association said that overall staffing remains below pre-pandemic levels, even as the industry continues its recovery. In 2021, restaurants and bars were able to bring back nearly 1.7 million jobs, but 650,000 jobs remain unfilled.

The hospitality industry continues to creep toward pre-pandemic staffing levels, but operators are cautious as the Omicron variant rages throughout the U.S., threatening to once again shutter bars and restaurants in markets across the country.