Iowa restaurants are expected to add 5,000 jobs this summer season, according to projections from the Iowa and National Restaurant Associations.  The projected growth in 2014 summer restaurant and bar employment ranks Iowa 24^th in the nation from the standpoint of greatest proportional increase.  More than 100,800 people are expected to be working in Iowa restaurants and bars this summer. “Summer is the busiest season for restaurants in most parts of the country—including Iowa,” said Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association. “The uptick in business creates new and additional job opportunities at all levels of restaurant operations.”   Projected Iowa Growth Better than National Projection, Trails Summer Tourism States The 5.2% projected increase in Iowa hospitality jobs for the summer, while slightly above the nationwide projected increase of  4.9%, is dwarfed by the expected increases in other states with heavy summer tourism interests.  Leading the pack are Maine (+33.2%), Alaska (+21%), Delaware (+18%), New Hampshire (+16.5%) and Rhode Island (+15.7%).  Conversely, because summer is not their heaviest tourism season, states such as Florida (-1.5%) and Arizona (-2.7%) project decreases in restaurant employment opportunities in the summer months. Summer employment is defined as the average number of eating and drinking place jobs in June, July and August. Because the U.S. restaurant industry generally begins to ramp up its summer seasonal hiring in April, the number of summer jobs is determined by the difference between the projected total 2014 summer employment and the March 2014 employment level. Nationally, the restaurant industry is the nation’s second-largest creator of summer jobs, ranking only behind the construction industry.   Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s industry with educational and promotional programs across the state. www.restaurantiowa.com

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Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist kkostek@restaurantiowa.com