Top 5 Cities for Restaurant Management Jobs
By Angela Rose, Hcareers.com
Are you a culinary conqueror, a lover of fine cuisine, a king (or queen) of customer service? Those who respond in the affirmative have a bright future ahead in hospitality. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the leisure and hospitality industries will include 14.4 million professionals by 2020. An astonishing 66 percent of the increase will be in restaurant and food service positions. Predictions indicate these jobs will grow by more than 860,000 to 10.2 million.
At Hcareers, we’re already seeing progress. According to data analysis for our 2012 Hospitality Jobs Snapshot report, there were 23 percent more job openings in hospitality last year than there were in 2011. Restaurant job openings alone increased by 35 percent. Restaurant manager positions experienced substantial increases as well.
We can thank the American consumer. The National Restaurant Association predicted total industry sales would top $632 billion in 2012. More sales mean more jobs, and restaurant and food service employers increased the total number of workers by 3 percent, more than double overall US employment growth. This year should be equally amazing, with the employment of more than 13 million professionals and $660.5 billion in sales.
While prospects for restaurant management professionals are excellent as a whole, some cities stand out from the rest. Consider the following we deem particularly notable.
1. San Francisco, California
Americans love to dine out, and those with higher incomes can afford to do so more often. For this reason, high-income areas are able to support a larger number of restaurants, and cost per square foot for residential real estate is often a reliable indicator of income. According to Trulia, a real estate website, homes in San Francisco go for $459 per square foot. This may explain why it has the highest per capita number of restaurants in the nation, with 39.3 for every 10,000 households.
The foodie culture, another reliable indicator of restaurant support, is also quite strong in San Francisco. Travel + Leisure rated the area number two on its list of America’s Best Cities for Foodies. The thriving metropolis is home to The French Laundry and Meadowood, both with three coveted Michelin stars. Another three restaurants boast two stars, while an impressive 39 establishments claim one.
2. New York, New York
Real estate is quite expensive in New York City as well at $275 per square foot. There are 25.3 restaurants per 10,000 households, making the area fourth in restaurants per capita. It’s not surprising that the city employed the most chefs and head cooks, and second most food service managers, in 2011 according to the BLS.
Travel + Leisure rated New York number four on the list of America’s Best Cities for Foodies. The area boasts seven restaurants with three Michelin stars, including Eleven Madison Park, one of the 10 best restaurants in the world. Nine restaurants lay claim to two Michelin stars while 46 have one.
3. Seattle, Washington
Food lovers trump income level in Seattle. The median price per square foot of residential real estate is only $150, yet the city is home to 24.9 restaurants per 10,000 households, the fifth most in the nation. The area was also rated number seven on Travel + Leisure’s list of America’s Best Cities for Foodies. While Michelin reviewers do not currently evaluate dining in Seattle, the city boasts numerous exciting restaurants including Ting Momo, Sitka and Spruce, and Revel.
4. San Jose, California
Silicon Valley is awash in money, so it’s not surprising the median price per square foot for residential real estate is $319. The area supports 24.8 restaurants per 10,000 households, making it sixth in the nation in that regard. Famous establishments in San Jose include Chez TJ, Pacific Catch and Alexander’s Steakhouse.
5. Boston, Massachusetts
Seafood is king in Boston. With residential real estate going for $219 per square foot, the city is home to 24.2 restaurants per 10,000 households—the ninth most in the nation. Popular eateries include Citizen Public House, Mistral and Lumière.
With numerous restaurants located in every major metropolitan area and robust industry predictions for 2013 and beyond, restaurant-management job opportunities should remain plentiful. Wherever your career takes you, remember Hcareers for job openings, employment search advice and more.
Read more restaurant career tips. Find more restaurant jobs by visiting the career center.
About the Author
Angela Rose researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for Hcareers.com.
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