From the bustling kitchens of New York to the serene resorts of Bali, the hospitality industry is a colossal global engine of employment, supporting millions of diverse careers that power our experiences and economies.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the U.S. leisure and hospitality sector employed 16.8 million workers, representing 10.2% of total nonfarm employment
- As of May 2023, food service and drinking places employed 12.4 million people in the U.S., the largest subsector in hospitality
- Hotels and motels employed 1.6 million workers in the U.S. in 2023, up 4.5% from 2022
- In May 2023, cooks in U.S. restaurants numbered 1.4 million
- Waiters and waitresses in U.S. totaled 2.1 million in 2023, largest hospitality occupation
- Hotel front desk clerks employed 240,000 in U.S. 2023
- U.S. hospitality workers aged 16-24: 35% of workforce in 2023
- Women comprise 52% of U.S. hospitality employees in 2023
- Hispanic or Latino workers: 28% in U.S. leisure/hospitality 2023
- Median hourly wage for waiters/waitresses U.S.: $14.35 in 2023
- Annual mean wage for lodging managers U.S.: $65,630 in 2023
- Food prep workers median wage: $13.90/hour U.S. 2023
- U.S. hospitality annual turnover rate: 73.9% in 2023
- Hotel industry voluntary turnover: 45% U.S. 2023
- Restaurant staff turnover averaged 75% in 2023 U.S.
The hospitality industry is a vast global employer offering diverse jobs across many countries.
Demographic Profiles
- U.S. hospitality workers aged 16-24: 35% of workforce in 2023
- Women comprise 52% of U.S. hospitality employees in 2023
- Hispanic or Latino workers: 28% in U.S. leisure/hospitality 2023
- Black or African American: 12% of U.S. hospitality workforce 2023
- Workers with less than high school diploma: 15% in hospitality 2023 U.S.
- Immigrants make up 22% of U.S. hotel workers in 2023
- Average age of U.S. restaurant workers: 38 years in 2023
- Part-time workers: 45% in U.S. hospitality sector 2023
- Veterans: 6% of hospitality workforce U.S. 2023
- LGBTQ+ representation: 10% in U.S. hospitality 2023 survey
- Rural area employment: 20% of U.S. hospitality jobs 2023
- Union membership: 4.5% in leisure/hospitality U.S. 2023
- Disability rate: 8% among hospitality workers U.S. 2023
- Single parents: 15% of hospitality employees U.S. 2023
- Gen Z (18-25): 25% of U.S. F&B workers 2023
- Baby Boomers (55+): 18% in U.S. hotels 2023
- Asian workers: 7% in U.S. hospitality 2023
- Native American: 1.5% of workforce hospitality U.S. 2023
- Urban concentration: 75% of jobs in metro areas U.S. 2023
- Females in management: 45% U.S. hospitality 2023
- Males in service roles: 55% U.S. restaurants 2023
- High school graduates: 60% education level hospitality U.S. 2023
- Full-time females: 48% hospitality U.S. 2023
- Youth under 20: 12% workforce U.S. hospitality 2023
- Median age U.S. waitstaff: 32 years 2023
Demographic Profiles Interpretation
The U.S. hospitality industry is a vibrant tapestry of young, diverse, and often part-time strivers, where a Gen Z server might be taking an order from a Baby Boomer hotel clerk, all while a remarkably low union membership rate suggests they're largely navigating the chaos solo.
Employment Levels
- In 2023, the U.S. leisure and hospitality sector employed 16.8 million workers, representing 10.2% of total nonfarm employment
- As of May 2023, food service and drinking places employed 12.4 million people in the U.S., the largest subsector in hospitality
- Hotels and motels employed 1.6 million workers in the U.S. in 2023, up 4.5% from 2022
- Globally, the travel and tourism sector supported 319 million jobs in 2023, with hospitality accounting for 45% of them
- In the EU, hospitality employment reached 12.5 million in 2022, 5.8% of total employment
- U.S. casinos and gambling industries employed 377,000 in 2023
- Restaurants in the U.S. added 216,000 jobs in 2023
- UK hospitality sector employed 3.5 million people in 2023, 10% of workforce
- In Australia, hospitality jobs numbered 1.2 million in 2023, 9.5% growth post-COVID
- India's hospitality sector employed 40 million directly in 2023
- Canada’s accommodation and food services employed 1.6 million in Q4 2023
- China's hotel industry employed 2.8 million in 2023
- France's hospitality sector had 1.4 million jobs in 2023
- Brazil's tourism and hospitality supported 4.7 million jobs in 2023
- South Africa's hospitality employment was 1.1 million in 2023
- U.S. arts, entertainment, and recreation employed 2.9 million in 2023
- Mexico's hospitality sector employed 4.2 million in 2023
- Germany's hotels and restaurants employed 4.1 million in 2023
- Japan's accommodation and food service workers numbered 5.6 million in 2023
- Spain's hospitality industry employed 2.8 million seasonally adjusted in 2023
- U.S. traveler accommodation subsector grew by 2.1% to 1.2 million jobs in 2023
- Italy's tourism employment reached 2.1 million in 2023
- Thailand's hospitality sector employed 5.2 million in 2023
- UAE's hotels employed 300,000 in 2023
- New Zealand hospitality jobs totaled 250,000 in 2023
- Singapore's F&B sector employed 200,000 in 2023
- U.S. RV parks and recreational camps employed 150,000 in 2023
- Greece's hospitality employment surged to 900,000 in summer 2023
- Portugal's tourism jobs numbered 800,000 in 2023
- U.S. total hospitality payroll employment increased by 500,000 year-over-year in Dec 2023
Employment Levels Interpretation
These staggering global numbers prove that while we're all chasing dreams, a vast portion of humanity is simultaneously running after room service trays, mixing cocktails, and asking, "How was everything today?"
Occupational Breakdown
- In May 2023, cooks in U.S. restaurants numbered 1.4 million
- Waiters and waitresses in U.S. totaled 2.1 million in 2023, largest hospitality occupation
- Hotel front desk clerks employed 240,000 in U.S. 2023
- Bartenders in U.S. drinking places: 450,000 in 2023
- Housekeeping cleaners in hotels: 320,000 U.S. workers in 2023
- Food prep workers in U.S. hospitality: 900,000 in 2023
- Managers in U.S. hotels: 180,000 in 2023
- Chefs and head cooks: 250,000 in U.S. 2023
- Janitors in hospitality venues: 400,000 U.S. 2023
- Casino gaming supervisors: 25,000 in U.S. 2023
- Recreation workers in resorts: 60,000 U.S. 2023
- Meeting planners in hospitality: 90,000 U.S. 2023
- Lodging managers: 50,000 in U.S. 2023
- Hosts and hostesses in restaurants: 500,000 U.S. 2023
- Dishwashers: 400,000 in U.S. F&B 2023
- Maids in hotels: 200,000 U.S. 2023
- Concierges: 20,000 in U.S. hotels 2023
- Sommeliers and wine stewards: 5,000 U.S. 2023
- Entertainment attendants: 30,000 in U.S. hospitality 2023
- Valets: 40,000 U.S. hotels/casinos 2023
- Banquet cooks: 80,000 U.S. 2023
- Tour guides: 50,000 in U.S. hospitality 2023
- Fitness trainers in resorts: 25,000 U.S. 2023
- Spa managers: 10,000 U.S. hospitality 2023
- Cocktail servers: 100,000 U.S. 2023
- Laundry attendants in hotels: 30,000 U.S. 2023
- Reservation agents: 70,000 U.S. 2023
Occupational Breakdown Interpretation
The sheer scale of America's hospitality industry, from its 2.1 million servers to its 5,000 sommeliers, reveals a vast, intricately choreographed machine where the choreographers outnumber the performers by a staggering margin.
Turnover and Projections
- U.S. hospitality annual turnover rate: 73.9% in 2023
- Hotel industry voluntary turnover: 45% U.S. 2023
- Restaurant staff turnover averaged 75% in 2023 U.S.
- Global hospitality turnover projected at 50% by 2025
- U.S. leisure/hospitality job openings: 1.2 million in Dec 2023
- Quit rate in hospitality: 5.8% monthly average 2023 U.S.
- Job satisfaction score: 3.8/5 in U.S. hospitality 2023 survey
- U.S. hospitality projected to add 1.1 million jobs by 2032
- Retention rate improvement: 10% in hotels using tech 2023
- Labor shortage: 1 million unfilled jobs U.S. hospitality 2023
- Employee engagement: 30% in hospitality vs 36% national avg 2023
- Projected growth for waitstaff: 5% by 2032 U.S.
- Cost of turnover per employee: $5,700 U.S. restaurants 2023
- UK hospitality vacancy rate: 9.2% in 2023
- Job growth forecast: 7.4% for hospitality occupations U.S. 2022-32
- Burnout rate: 60% hospitality workers U.S. 2023
- Retention boosted 15% with flexible scheduling 2023 studies
- Australia hospitality turnover: 65% 2023
- Projected 10 million new jobs globally by 2033 WTTC
- U.S. F&B quits: 6.2% monthly 2023 peak
Turnover and Projections Interpretation
The hospitality industry is running a high-stakes relay race where the baton is a job opening, 73.9% of the runners quit before the finish line, and the million-person crowd is mainly there to watch, not to play.
Wage Statistics
- Median hourly wage for waiters/waitresses U.S.: $14.35 in 2023
- Annual mean wage for lodging managers U.S.: $65,630 in 2023
- Food prep workers median wage: $13.90/hour U.S. 2023
- Hotel housekeepers average $15.20/hour U.S. 2023
- Bartenders mean annual $31,950 U.S. 2023
- Chefs median $56,520/year U.S. 2023
- Front desk clerks $15.45/hour median U.S. 2023
- Cooks-restaurant median $16.50/hour 2023 U.S.
- Janitors $17.10/hour mean hospitality U.S. 2023
- Casino dealers $14.80/hour median U.S. 2023
- Maids annual mean $32,450 U.S. 2023
- Meeting planners $58,760 median/year U.S. 2023
- Dishwashers $13.60/hour U.S. 2023
- Hosts/hostesses $14.20/hour median 2023 U.S.
- Recreation workers $15.90/hour U.S. 2023
- Concierges $36,200/year mean U.S. 2023
- Fitness trainers $46,480 median U.S. hospitality 2023
- Valets $14.50/hour U.S. 2023
- Laundry workers $14.00/hour median hospitality 2023
- Reservation agents $19.50/hour U.S. 2023
- Tour guides $36,990/year mean U.S. 2023
- Spa therapists $48,000 median U.S. 2023
- Banquet captains $45,200/year U.S. 2023
- U.S. hospitality average hourly earnings: $21.50 in Dec 2023
- Tips add 20-30% to base wages for servers U.S. 2023 average
- UK hospitality median wage £11.50/hour 2023
- Benefits coverage: 40% of hospitality workers have health insurance U.S. 2023
Wage Statistics Interpretation
The hospitality industry's pay structure is a masterclass in economic irony, where the person orchestrating your perfect vacation can afford a better one than the person who cleans your room, and your tips are often the life raft keeping the server who memorized your order afloat in a sea of stagnant wages.
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