Last week's employment report was disappointing, with the economy adding about 50,000 fewer jobs in December than expected, but robust hiring by bars and restaurants may be a sign of better days.
The food services industry added 25,000 jobs last month and was the biggest contributor to a 47,000 jump in employment for leisure and hospitality — the top job creator among 14 broad sectors the government tracks.
All U.S. employers added 103,000 jobs last month — far fewer than the 150,000 many economists expected — restaurants' strong showing is an encouraging sign for the job market overall, some economists say.
"It's an important sector to have growing because it … consistently adds significant numbers of jobs during expansions," says Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist of Barclays Capital. "It's a very reliable indicator that the overall job market is picking up."
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