David Huether, senior vice president of economics and research at the U.S. Travel Association, provides analysis on today's Labor Department report that the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 8.3 percent for July 2012.
"The travel industry continues to be one of the prime drivers of the nation's economy, adding 9,200 new American jobs in July - the highest increase in four months - bringing total direct employment to 7,596,400. Travel job growth was mainly driven by increases in the restaurant and lodging sectors.
"In total, 63,700 jobs have been added to the U.S. travel industry, or an average of 9,100 jobs per month since January of this year, accounting for six percent of total non-farm jobs added this year.
"Since the employment recovery began, travel has created nearly 287,300 new jobs, contributing 7.2 percent of overall job growth since early 2010. The travel industry's job growth continues to outpace the growth the rest of the economy in employment recovery."
The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $1.9 trillion in economic output and supports 14.4 million jobs. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to and within the United States.
Visit www.ustravel.org.
