The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report shows that foodservice saw a significant drop in total employees for the second month in a row, with 26,100 jobs shed in July, on top of nearly 33,000 jobs lost in June. This is the first time in over a year that the restaurant industry lost jobs two months in a row. The restaurant industry appears to be having a slow summer, after eating and drinking places added 24,600 jobs in May compared to a more modest 9,200 jobs added in April. The double-digit restaurant industry job losses accelerated the surprising hiring slump nationally. According to the National Restaurant Association, the softer foodservice hiring numbers are much closer to pre-pandemic levels of staffing.