Why Restaurant Industry 

The Food Service Industry has become the nation's largest private employer providing incomes to 12 million people or 9 percent of the U.S. workforce. The National Restaurant Association predicts that the industry will employ 13.5 million people by 2014.  

Food Service and Lodging Managers account for the largest number of managerial employees in the country, 1.5 million.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2008, there will be approximately 3,850,000 hospitality jobs available in the United States. As a matter of fact, in the year 2000, approximately 375,000 jobs went unfilled in the industry.

More than four out of ten adults (44%) were restaurant patrons on a typical day.  The typical person in the United States consumes an average of 4.2 meals prepared away from home per week.  This year, Americans will spend about 46% of their food dollars on restaurants (Restaurant News). Total annual wages and benefits equal $47 billion for full service restaurants and $35 billion for fast food establishments. 

In 2010, it is projected that the restaurant industry will operate more than 1 million units, with sales of $577 billion representing 53% of the food dollar. (Statistical information obtained from National Restaurant Association)

This industry is incredibly "Recession Resistant." In a down or recessed economy, restaurant companies look to hire stronger managers with profit and loss skills than the ones they have. They upgrade their weaker managers with the new stronger ones. These stronger, better skilled managers turn the profit that pulls the company through the recession.

With a stronger, growth economy, companies are growing and adding units. They need managers to facilitate this expansion. 

Restaurant industry sales are expected to jump 4.4 percent to $440.1 billion, according to the National Restaurant Association. That's 4% of the nation’s gross domestic product. The annual sales forecast averages out to about $1.2 billion per day.

Each $1 million in sales for the restaurant industry generates an additional 40 jobs for the economy as a whole.

You never hear about layoffs in the Food Service Industry. 

Why Retail Industry 

Most retailers use recruiting firms to help them find executive and management personnel.  Both small and large companies rely on this service.  Among all retail corporate recruiters surveyed, 85% reported using recruiting services to find management personnel.   

Most retailers work with a number of recruiting services.  On average, five (5) firms are used.  Only ten (10) percent of the companies work with just one firm. 

The choice of recruiting firms is made by top executives of the company in four out of five instances.  The chief executive makes twenty (20) percent of the decisions, officers and vice presidents sixty (60) percent. 

This year while manufacturing job losses are have been high, employment in the service-producing sector, including retail, grew by 46,000 jobs. Retail Trades added 12,000 jobs and Services added 50,000 jobs (Article-Nations Restaurant News).

This industry is incredibly "Recession Resistant." In a down or recessed economy, retail companies look to hire stronger managers with profit and loss skills than the ones they have. They upgrade their weaker managers with the new stronger ones. These stronger, better skilled managers turn the profit that pulls the company through the recession.