Confirmation: Americans eager to get back to work

In its latest jobs report, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 916,000 in March. "Job growth was widespread, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, public and private education, and construction," the BLS reports.

Joel Griffith, research fellow in financial regulations for The Heritage Foundation, points out that the "biggest gainer" was actually the restaurant/bar/hotel sector.

"Remember, these are jobs that came back; this was last month before the stimulus checks had all been distributed," Griffith tells One News Now. "This growth is organic – and it's because now 'Blue' states, like California and New York, are very belatedly starting to follow the lead of Texas and Florida and allowing businesses to reopen."

According to the BLS report, employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 280,000 – and points out that the increase occurred "as pandemic-related restrictions eased in many parts of the country."

Griffith concurs. "This jobs report," he shares, "definitely confirms that if you allow businesses to reopen and people to start getting back to their lives, they are eager to do so."

While some people may not view the hospitality sector as being that important to the overall economy, Griffith says people in that sector can and do make a lot of money.

"Some people choose to make a career out of it," he notes. "Also, people work at these jobs because the hours are flexible – and these jobs are a very good way to develop the character qualities that you need to hold down a job and to learn time management, to learn people management, and to get training on the job that they did not get in school."

While the numbers in that job sector are a positive sign, BLS notes there is still a ways to go to return to pre-pandemic levels. Employment in leisure and hospitality remains down by 3.1 million, or 18.5%, since February 2020.