Leisure and Hospitality Leads U.S. Job Growth on World Cup Boost

The U.S. leisure and hospitality sector ramped up hiring in May — the biggest jump among all industry groups — as businesses gear up for a World Cup tourism boost, even as booking data suggests international demand may fall short of initial forecasts.

The sector added 70,000 jobs from the prior month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, well above the average monthly gain of 14,000 over the past year. Most of the growth was concentrated in restaurants and bars, which added 48,000 jobs.

A Bank of America report called it an early sign of “World Cup fever.” The 104-match soccer tournament kicks off on June 11, with the final in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19.

Although booking data indicates that the number of international visitors may not live up to initial forecasts, the tournament is still expected to deliver the tourism industry a lift.

“Most people would expect that World Cup hiring would start i