Job growth for people with food service and culinary arts experience on their resumes continues to outpace almost all other industries, with some states seeing demand for restaurant workers at its highest level in a decade. According to the National Restaurant Association, overall industry employment is expected to reach 12.9 million by the end of this year, which account for 10% of the total U.S. workforce. Workers are expected to be the most in demand in Texas in Florida through 2022, with Illinois restaurants currently employing the most seasonal help it has in the past 10 years. Harry Balzar, an industry analyst at New York's NPD Group, told Crain's Chicago Business that foot traffic at the nation's eateries is on the rise. "Americans are going to be using restaurants more and there will be a greater demand for jobs in that sector," noted, citing the "one thing most (consumers) don't want to do if they don't have to - cook." The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment opportunities for chefs and head cooks are expected to be best with a degree from a culinary arts school or 4-year college on their resume. |