Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Leisure & Hospitality Unemployment Tops All Major Industries, Oysterlink Analysis of Latest BLS Report Shows

By: Newsfile

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - September 1, 2025) - The latest unemployment report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as analyzed by OysterLink, shows that leisure and hospitality recorded a 6.2% unemployment rate in July 2025, up from 5.5% a year earlier. This makes it the highest unemployment rate of any major industry, while the overall jobless rate remained nearly unchanged at 4.6%.

Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10722/264655_081cd754c45cd80d_001.jpg

Unemployment rate in leisure and hospitality

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10722/264655_081cd754c45cd80d_001full.jpg

Several industries showed improvements year over year. Construction unemployment fell from 3.9% to 3.4%, while transportation and utilities dropped from 5.1% to 3.9%. Others remained relatively stable, such as education and health services (3.7% to 3.8%) and financial activities (2.5% to 2.2%).

By contrast, manufacturing saw an increase from 3.6% to 4.2%, alongside the rise in leisure and hospitality. However, at 6.2%, leisure and hospitality remains the highest among all major industries.

Table 1. Unemployment rates by selected industry (July 2024 vs. July 2025)

IndustryJuly 2024July 2025Change
Total, 16 years and over4.5%4.6%+0.1
Construction3.9%3.4%-0.5
Manufacturing3.6%4.2%+0.6
Transportation & Utilities5.1%3.9%-1.2
Professional & Business Services4.2%3.3%-0.9
Education & Health Services3.7%3.8%+0.1
Leisure & Hospitality5.5%6.2%+0.7
Financial Activities2.5%2.2%-0.3

 

"As the latest data shows, leisure and hospitality consistently records one of the highest unemployment rates in the U.S.," said Milos Eric, co-founder and general manager of OysterLink.

"Monitoring these changes is critical, as they provide an early signal of how restaurants, hotels, and entertainment businesses may approach staffing decisions heading into the fall and holiday periods," Eric added.

For employers, the data points to the need for careful workforce planning ahead of the holiday season. For workers, it underscores the role of platforms like OysterLink in connecting job seekers with opportunities across hospitality.

About OysterLink

OysterLink is a job platform for restaurant and hospitality professionals with over 400,000 monthly visitors. OysterLink connects talent with opportunities across the U.S., including the top server jobs in New York City or bartender jobs in Los Angeles.    

The platform also offers trend reports, expert insights, and interviews with leaders in hospitality. To explore more data-driven insights or post a job that works for today's talent, visit www.oysterlink.com.

Media Contact

Ana Demidova
ana@oysterlink.com   

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264655

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.