Many stores did not staff for the holiday season as densely as they had a year ago. Restaurant employment fell by 6234. Declines, common following the end of the summer tourist season and closing of many outside patios, were greater than usual. This was the lowest annual gain seen since first quarter 1992 when Retail added only 5772 and a drop from the high of 25,572 added fourth quarter of 1994. This sector was deprived of about 650 employees for seasonal Christmas sales when a service contract was not renewed.
Gains are comparable to annual growth the past two quarters.