Food trucks drive fast employment growth in mobile food services

When industry data are analyzed and discussed, the broadly defined industries, such as manufacturing or retail trade, usually receive the most attention. These major industries are made up of component parts, the smallest of which are the detailed industries. While millions of workers are employed in the major industries, employment in the detailed industries is often measured in thousands or hundreds. Of course, employment in these industries can change significantly over time, and these changes, though often relatively small, can reflect economic and societal changes.

Mobile food services, most recognizable in the form of the food trucks or carts with workers preparing and serving snacks and meals from roadsides, sidewalks, and parking lots, was one of the fast-growing detailed industries since the year 2000. In 2024, employment in mobile food services was 44,119, about 10 times its 2000 level, an increase of 907 percent. Other food-and-drink related industries that grew over this period include other food crops grown under cover, breweries, and distilleries.

Employment increased in several industries providing health care and related services. Employment in offices of all other miscellaneous health practitioners increased 522 percent from 2000 to 2024. Offices of mental health practitioners (except physicians), all other outpatient care centers, all other miscellaneous ambulatory health care services, and HMO medical centers were also among the fast-growing detailed industries.

Nail salon employment increased 641 percent from 2000 to 2024. Attention to personal appearance might also explain the 346-percent employment increase in other personal care services, which includes tanning salons, saunas, ear piercing, hair removal, and tattooing. Barber shops also made the cut, with employment up 282 percent over the past 2 dozen years. Speaking of nails and hair, our pets' appearance may be getting more attention too. Employment in pet care services (which includes grooming, boarding, and training, but not veterinary services) grew 513 percent.

These data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program and are calculated with data in quarterly reports from establishments covered by the unemployment insurance program. Employment that is not covered by unemployment insurance (for example, the self-employed) is not included in QCEW data. QCEW data are not designed as a time series. For more information, please see the QCEW Technical Note. An industry is a group of establishments, generally employers, performing the same or similar economic activities. Establishments are classified by industry with the use of an industrial classification system called the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The major industries mentioned above are identified by two-digit NAICS codes. Detailed industries have six-dight NAICS codes.