Travel Industry Creates 81,000 Jobs in 2012

"After consistently adding jobs during the prior 12 months, travel industry employment edged down in December, falling by 2,900 jobs. However, one month does not make a trend and the travel industry remains a significant job creator for our nation's economy, adding 81,000 jobs in 2012.

"Currently employing 7.6 million Americans, the travel industry added more jobs last year than many other industries including educational services, real estate, construction, utilities, information, and mining. Creating jobs 14 percent faster than the rest of the economy, the travel industry has recovered 61 percent of the jobs lost during the Great Recession compared to 54 percent in the rest of the economy.

"The travel industry provides a solid path to a middle-class lifestyle for millions of Americans. U.S. Travel's latest jobs report shows that travel is a top 10 employer of middle-class wage earners in the United States, with more than half of all travel employees earning a middle-class salary or higher."