The travel industry added 13,400 jobs in July, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s analysis of Friday’s Labor Department employment report, which also showed that the national unemployment rate returned to a 16-year low of 4.3 percent. Travel industry employment has grown every month in 2017 so far, adding an average of 9,500 jobs per month.Most travel industry segments added jobs last month. Job gains occurred in the food and beverage service, amusements/gambling/recreation, and airline industry in particular. Employment in the lodging segment also edged up. The travel industry as a whole has added 66,800 jobs so far this year.

The travel industry remains a consistent job creator for the U.S. economy, adding new jobs 10 out of the last 12 months and continuing to support one in nine American jobs. The monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that total non-farm employment increased by 209,000 in July, somewhat surpassing expectations.