The Job Market Outlook for Individuals with a Culinary Arts Degree
Nov 19, 2014 | 8:00 am
In case you want to start a culinary career, then you should know that the culinary job outlook shows some encouraging signs for future professionals. The prospects tell us that the restaurant and food service industry is continuously developing. The restaurant industry is among the largest and most important private-sector employers, employing almost 13 million people. The culinary job outlook for food service workers and chefs depends on the specialty they choose. Unfortunately, all of them will have to face fierce competition. In order to obtain a better-paid job, you will have to prove that you are extremely skilled and experienced.
The Culinary Job Outlook for Chefs
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the number of positions for head cooks, chefs and serving and food preparation supervisors to grow by 5% by 2022. This percentage might be lower than the average for other occupations, but it’s still a good sign that the demand for culinary professionals is rising. At the same time, the national projections may not match the short-term or the local job conditions.
Moreover, economists report that the restaurant industry will still remain one of the top private sector employers and will fuel U.S. employment in the years to come. For example, restaurant sales in 2014 are projected to reach $683 billion. This means that they will be an increase by 3.6% as compared to 2013. Finally, in 2014, jobs added by the restaurant industry will hit the 2.8% figure, while the general U.S. employment will only reach 1.8%. If you have a culinary arts degree, there are many chances that you will find a job in the industry.
Getting a Culinary Job
The culinary job outlook is pure economy and it deals with figures and numbers. Still, on the field, things are a bit different, but if you are a professional, experienced and skilled, you will have nothing to worry about. In order to get a culinary job, you will need a lot of imagination and creativity to come up with new, interesting and delicious dishes or desserts. If you are good at what you do, then you will surely find an establishment willing to pay you good money to work for them.
The modern society enjoys innovative ideas when it comes to food and new recipes, so if you like creating new dishes and menus, this will be the dream job for you. If you have all the necessary skills, you will just need to graduate a culinary arts degree and gain a few years of experience and you will be able to knock at the doors of the 5-star restaurants in search of a high-paid job.
An advantage in earning a culinary arts degree is that you will be able to find a job everywhere you go. For example, if you wish to relocate outside the country, you can find a position as a cook or as a chef, because food services are sought after everywhere in the world. In case you want to be paid good money for a job in the restaurant industry, you will have to look for positions in the cities thriving with entertainment and businesses or in the tourism sector.