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The "Waiter And Bartender" Recovery: Most Food Service Jobs Added Since 2012

Tyler Durden's picture




 

For those wondering why average hourly earnings in December plunged by -0.2% on expectations of a 0.2% increase and why the November "Green shoot" surge in wages of 0.4%, which everyone took as a signal of imminent wage inflation was cut in half...

... here is the answer: in December the number of workers employed in Food Service and Drinking Places, i.e., sub-minimum wage waiters and bartenders jumped by 43,600: the highest monthly increase since 2012...

... taking the series to an all time high record of 10.848 million workers, and rapidly catching up with America's barely growing manufacturing sector.

 

What about other industries? Here is the full breakdown of the December 250,000 seasonally-adjusted job increase by industry: note the relentless "strength" in low-paying education and health, leisure and hospitality, and retail sectors.

 

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Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:41 | 5641384 Haus-Targaryen
Haus-Targaryen's picture

Americans like to eat huh? 

Bullish for defibulators.   

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:58 | 5641493 BandGap
BandGap's picture

This is why they want to raise the minimum wage. Think about it, more eye candy as far as pay.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 14:21 | 5642589 mkkby
mkkby's picture

This might just be more workers getting fewer hours so the business doesn't get an obamacare tax increase.

If it is actually more people eating/drinking out, we should see that in the overall sales or sales tax stats.  Eating out is cheap entertainment, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's rising.  The fewer and fewer people with decent jobs need something to do other than endlessly texting each other useless information.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:16 | 5641587 ZH Snob
ZH Snob's picture

the elite demand outstanding service in their bars and restaurants.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:22 | 5641620 ejmoosa
ejmoosa's picture

Have you seen the skill sets of of some of these waiters lately?

It takes 3 of them to do the work of two from just 20 years ago.

They have to come to your table to see if you need more tea.  Then they have to go back and retrieve the pitcher of tea if you do.  There is no anticipation of anything you would normally need through the course of a meal.

I do have empathy.  They were told to go to college, rack up huge amounts of debt, and then when they graduated, the US economy had been so fundamentally transformed(O's campaign promise) that they have been told to be thankful they have gotten a part time job working nights and weekends.

Until the government gets out of the way, until we end the corporate fascist cartels in big business that are getting stronger by the day, this is not going to change. 

We cannot have a real economic resurgence until we remove what is holding us back.

 

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:41 | 5641712 Hal n back
Hal n back's picture

dumbing of service staff: we were out for dinner last night and the server offered 4 type of rolls for my wifes salad--first two times were wrong rolls.

 

the servers do not listen and do not have good memory-

 

I wonder if this is even true--my wife and I have figured out how much more expensive it is to go out for dinner--including taxes and gratuitiy and a 2.95 iced tea. I figure more folks are dining at home. Look how well Kroger is doing. 

 

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 12:52 | 5642153 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

That's because 'it' was a 'server'...   Now, the only question that remains is, was 'it' a 1U, 2U, 4U or 6U variety, and did it have 64 or 128GB DDR-3 ECC on board, with 8X 500 GB SAS drives...?

Perhaps - since these 'servers' are really 'human' in drag, we should Dump the PC, gender-neutered BullShit, and refer to these human beings as something a bit higher up the evolutionary scale than what is commonly referred to as a compute device that 'serves' clients...? 

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 13:20 | 5642315 Lone_Star
Lone_Star's picture

Re Kroger: I'm seeing more national retail grocery chains trying to pass on the effects of consumer losses onto their suppliers. This is from my experience working finances of an importer who supplies products to stores across the U.S. The things they try to deduct when they pay are sometimes funny, and sometimes it's just irritating.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:42 | 5641387 mattgallis
mattgallis's picture

We marginalized some folks

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:42 | 5641394 Rubbish
Rubbish's picture

Long Boob Jobs

 

Gold Bitchez...I pick up pennies

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:44 | 5641397 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

We're gonna have a major unemployment prolem when McDonalds starts replacing workers with robots.  I'm pretty sure making a machine that would mix drinks is doable with today's technology, too.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:48 | 5641762 Hal n back
Hal n back's picture

No Debt--I used to go to the restaurant show for years--years ago they had automated machines that made alcoholic drinks--bet they have improved those by now.

what do we do when most everybody gets automated out of a job. When Amazon totally automates its warehouses?

 

My son in law  has a small  manufacturing company--he adds automated machines, expensive capital--but it runs 24/7, quality is perfect, all they have to do is have a person add raw material once in a while and maintain it once a week. ie keep it clean and oiled. No Obamacare for that machine.

One issue-over time he does find he needs to hire more talented people, broader skills, adaptable and with better communication skills.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 18:13 | 5643710 Bemused Observer
Bemused Observer's picture

"No Obamacare for that machine."

No customers either...which COULD pose a problem...

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:43 | 5641398 Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights's picture

Long woodpulp..

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:41 | 5641399 revjimbeam
revjimbeam's picture

good. we're going to need as many bartenders as we can get our hands on

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:46 | 5641417 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

I was thinking more along the lines of a George Thorogood drinking experience for most people in this super awesome "recovery".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpzqQst-Sg8

I drink alone.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:42 | 5641401 knukles
knukles's picture

No wonder things are looking up!
This ties in neatly with Opajamas 2 year free community college proposal.
Full credit toward a Phd in bartender and waitress philosophy and metaphysics. 

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:57 | 5641476 Jlasoon
Jlasoon's picture

Someone has to spend the money. And most Americans don't have any. Got to keep the shit show going. 

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:30 | 5641649 ejmoosa
ejmoosa's picture

You get what you pay for.

That's the worth of community college these days-0.

With entry level college students reading at a 7th grade level, consider this High School 2.0.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:47 | 5641422 screw face
screw face's picture

....bullish

........ bastards!

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:47 | 5641426 stant
stant's picture

Refuge camps in the conch republic will need un help

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:50 | 5641437 joego1
joego1's picture

Time to get my PhD in burgerology.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:54 | 5641457 Seasmoke
Seasmoke's picture

Burglarology.

There fixed it.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:51 | 5641440 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

i hear that waiters and bartenders buy a lot of stocks /s

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:45 | 5641735 Ness.
Ness.'s picture

They buy alot of socks (see, cause they're on their feet all day - that's why how come they need lotsa socks) ;)

 

Hey bartender!?  

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:51 | 5641441 silverer
silverer's picture

Good news on the inflation front: (at least on the government end). I just had to renew our passports. In 2005, they cost $65.00. Now they cost $110.00. I checked this out on the inflation calculator, and according to the governments own inflation index, the passports should cost $78.60. Now what did they say the inflation rate was again?

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:51 | 5641452 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

next year i will need a passport to fly from oklahoma to florida. bastards.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:11 | 5641550 kowalli
kowalli's picture

Why not one way ticket ohlahoma - Singapore?

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:12 | 5641569 JRobby
JRobby's picture

Much higher than the published figure.

GOVT FEES are not included in the calculation. Especially for passports as it is considered a luxury to leave this country because there is a strong possibility that you may not come back.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:50 | 5641444 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

I'll drink to that.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:52 | 5641448 Seasmoke
Seasmoke's picture

Bartender. Make mine a double. On the double.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 10:59 | 5641467 hangemhigh77
hangemhigh77's picture

All these people with no money are so fucking stupid!!! Just do what Yellen says, buy stocks and houses!! It's so easy all poor people shud be doing this

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:01 | 5641494 Fred Hayek
Fred Hayek's picture

This is such a load of crap.  To believe these official government reports you'd have to believe we're in the midst of the greatest expansion in restaurants in history.  Or alternatively, you'd have to believe that restaurant managers have progressively worked toward tripling their staff in the last 6 years.   Bullshit.  This is all bullshit.   They use the category as a statistical dumping ground and our lazy whore press never calls them on it.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:06 | 5641530 astoriajoe
astoriajoe's picture

I don't know.

Why hire one hot bartender when you can have 1 different hot bartender every night of the week. Use it as a draw to bring people in.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:02 | 5641513 Casserole of no...
Casserole of nonsense's picture

Plunge and .2% don't belong in the same sentence. Enough with the overblown hyperbole already

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:03 | 5641517 hotrod
hotrod's picture

My son just graduated from Georgia and he is a Bartender.  So is his girlfriend while they await jobs.  Coincidence or not.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:13 | 5641566 kowalli
kowalli's picture

He need to start learning some real skills because really soon -- no free money...

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:40 | 5641713 hotrod
hotrod's picture

Kowalli,  yes you are right.  After 5 years at the Univ of Georgia I ask myself all the time what skill does he have?

Mixes drinks well and took a lot of classes that prepared him for nothing, (history of Rock and Roll, Resume writing, Internship procurement). Very expensive training.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:04 | 5641521 astoriajoe
astoriajoe's picture

The .01% aint gonna serve itself.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:09 | 5641549 JRobby
JRobby's picture

Apparently those that were only drinking are now eating as well since their disability benefits were finally approved.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:17 | 5641589 taketheredpill
taketheredpill's picture

 

 

Aspen.  Where the beer flows like wine.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:19 | 5641600 Mike Honcho
Mike Honcho's picture

They are like rats scampering for the high point in a flooding room.  This service employment has got to be getting saturated since dining and entertainment spending is going down, and employee demand as well.  I notice some vacant restaurant  parking lots as I pass by on the way to liquor store and grocers.

 

No offense to service industry folks, some of my most fun jobs there.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:32 | 5641661 Wild E Coyote
Wild E Coyote's picture

It is just too bad that, US workers could not compete with other countries in eating smaller burgers and cheap rice and onions while making High Tech electronic products. (In China many factory workers are paid only food packets.)

US workers however, can continue to get those usual US type food from bartending and as waiters. The story makes sense.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:40 | 5641709 KansasCrude
KansasCrude's picture

Typically the Bartender/Waitor employees are the lowest cost for restaurants and bars due to the low fraction of the the minimun wage they are paid.  So why not add more and make sure they are under 30 hours.  Several friends have kids filling these roles and are reporting they are not making any money to speak of.  Why owners love more hands at a couple bucks an hour so they are adding more and working them more in rolls of busboys, servers and giving them "fewer tables" to earn revenue off of.  This is resulting in much lower revenue for the wait/bartender staff as they have more splits of there revenue and more people working so the whole thing adds up to lower expenses to the restaurant.  Can't blame them (restaurants) as they are all struggling with lower revenues and higher food costs.  Pretty much everything but "fast casual" is really struggling as customers are cutting back on dining in due to costs.  Counter Service/Carryout is all thats growing and not enough to offset the dine in overall sales softness.  Both those eliminate or reduce tipping costs and take advantage of much much cheaper booze at home.  When you consider a pretty huge amount of sales typically are propped up by young adults the income/no job crunch is really reaching deep.  While wait/barteners used to be the top of the food chain they are not bringing the $$$ they used to.  My guess is that too is adding to turnover which then shows up as more hired.  Both the more per establishment due to lower costs and the turnover are why it appears we are adding huge amounts to this total pretty much every month....

 

That the gubming continues to spin this as a positive is really grasping at straws.  Its really a sad sad case but hey party on...stocks and bonds

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:44 | 5641726 hotrod
hotrod's picture

What you said is EXACTLY what my University graduated son complains about while bartending.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:49 | 5641770 Sutton
Sutton's picture

Late "great" James Traficant remarking upon the  Free Trade NAFTA scams-"We'll all do each others laundry."

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 11:58 | 5641802 Baby Eating Dingo22
Baby Eating Dingo22's picture

What else did you expect?

Everyone's drowning their sorrows

Marketwatch called this report "amazing".

Maybe they meant "shocking"?

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 12:35 | 5642036 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

Waiters and bartenders? Those are depression era jobs.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 12:45 | 5642106 NuYawkFrankie
NuYawkFrankie's picture

Last "Recovery": Selling each other houses

This "Recovery": Making each other cocktails

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 12:53 | 5642162 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

But, but but...   I thought this 'job market' was 'healing'...?   I guess it is, if you need to stuff yer gullet or drown your sorrows with a $10 whiskey sour...

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 13:30 | 5642363 Bumbu Sauce
Bumbu Sauce's picture

THey are Gorbasming all over themselves in the leftist kooksphere over these reports.  Fucking idiots.

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 16:47 | 5643373 Uranus Hertz
Uranus Hertz's picture

I'll have 20 molotov cocktails to go, doctor. Stat.

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