Hospitality hiring for FIFA World Cup drives US and Canada jobs above forecasts

Hiring in the hospitality sector helped drive stronger-than-expected jobs reports in the US and Canada, as both countries prepared for the start of the FIFA World Cup next week. The surge points to a broader boost in leisure, travel and event-related work at a time when employers have now beaten forecasts for a third straight month in the US, according to the BBC and Bloomberg.

According to Bloomberg, strong hiring in leisure and hospitality was one of the main forces behind the blowout employment numbers, suggesting businesses are already adding staff to handle the expected increase in visitors, spending and activity around the tournament. The BBC reported that US jobs figures have again come in above expectations, extending a run of better-than-forecast data that has kept labor-market momentum in focus.