This story originally appeared on seoClarity.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate fell to 7.9% during the month of September. This represents a sizable decrease from the record high rate of 14.7% notched in April, but still leaves millions of Americans unemployed.
The hospitality industry has been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of last year, more than 14 million people (or 9.4% of all workers) were employed in accommodation and food services, which includes hotels, casinos, restaurants and bars.
However, the industry accounted for almost one-third of all job losses due to the pandemic. BLS data shows that the industry has gained back over 3.7 million jobs since April, but unemployment remains high, at 20.8%.
To find the metropolitan areas that are most reliant on tourism, researchers at seoClarity analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The researchers ranked metro areas according to the share of non-farm employment in the accommodations and food services industry.
We also calculated the total number of accommodations and food services workers, total (non-farm) workers across all industries, the overall unemployment rate in April, and the cost of living.
Following are the large metropolitan areas that are most reliant on tourism.
15. Denver
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 9.4%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 144,800
- Total workers across all industries: 1,536,000
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 12.3%
- Cost of living: 4.9% above average
14. Houston
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 9.4%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 295,700
- Total workers across all industries: 3,156,200
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 14.3%
- Cost of living: 1.8% above average
13. Tampa, Florida
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 9.9%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 136,600
- Total workers across all industries: 1,384,700
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 13.2%
- Cost of living: 1% below average
12. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 10%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 79,700
- Total workers across all industries: 795,300
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 12.1%
- Cost of living: 3% below average
11. Los Angeles
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 10%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 621,400
- Total workers across all industries: 6,239,500
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 18.8%
- Cost of living: 17.1% above average
10. Tucson, Arizona
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 10.1%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 39,500
- Total workers across all industries: 389,600
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 12.8%
- Cost of living: 6.1% below average
9. Riverside, California
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 10.1%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 155,200
- Total workers across all industries: 1,541,800
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 14.7%
- Cost of living: 7% above average
8. Jacksonville, Florida
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 10.2%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 74,200
- Total workers across all industries: 724,400
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 11.2%
- Cost of living: 4.5% below average
7. Miami
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 10.4%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 283,700
- Total workers across all industries: 2,718,100
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 13.4%
- Cost of living: 9.9% above average
6. Austin, Texas
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 10.8%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 120,500
- Total workers across all industries: 1,116,000
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 12.2%
- Cost of living: 0.2% above average
5. San Antonio
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 11.2%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 121,300
- Total workers across all industries: 1,078,700
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 13.3%
- Cost of living: 6.1% below average
4. San Diego
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 11.4%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 171,700
- Total workers across all industries: 1,503,900
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 15%
- Cost of living: 16.4% above average
3. New Orleans
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 13.5%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 78,900
- Total workers across all industries: 583,400
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 19%
- Cost of living: 5.9% below average
2. Orlando, Florida
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 14%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 185,700
- Total workers across all industries: 1,327,100
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 16.8%
- Cost of living: 1.3% below average
1. Las Vegas
- Share of employment in accommodation and food services: 26.2%
- Total accommodation and food services workers: 270,600
- Total workers across all industries: 1,034,100
- Overall unemployment rate (April 2020): 34%
- Cost of living: 3.2% below average
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