Pasadena, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/31/2010 -- Restaurants and bars accounted for 34,000 of the 64,000 new private sector jobs created in September.

The restaurant industry is one of the few industries experiencing expansion in the last 12 months. This is reflected in most of the major restaurant chains seeing their stock price increase. Shares of McDonalds, Cheesecake Factory, Dinequity (owner of Applebee’s and IHOP) have seen major increases.

Bars and restaurants nationwide have seen an increase in applicants for all positions. They are getting applications from college educated young people who have not been able to get jobs in this economy. Reports from the restaurant chains suggest that some of the candidates are also looking at this industry with a long term view and not just as a temporary job. Some people view restaurants jobs as safer than desk jobs with similar pay since the work cannot be outsourced.

The restaurant industry today is the largest source of private sector jobs employing 4.7 million people including just waiters and food preparation workers. CEO A. Harrison Barnes of Hound says that restaurants and fast food chains are among the biggest employers right now. “In any major city you will see lots of fast food chains, often on the same stretch of road facing each other. Very few industries are doing this well.” Hound has been able to find over 24,000 jobs in the hospitality and food services industry.