What Do Americans Love More Than Gadgets? Food.

Gallup's latest Work and Education poll confirms it. Consumers voted restaurants the top business sector, ahead of the computer industry.

Aug 17, 2016 - 13:03
What Do Americans Love More Than Gadgets? Food.

Gallup’s latest Work and Education poll confirms it. Consumers voted restaurants the top business sector, ahead of the computer industry.

The poll ranks' perceptions of 24 business sectors, plus the federal government, which came in last place. With a net positive response of 59, the restaurant industry outperformed the computer industry by six percentage points.

Both received 66 percent positive ratings, but restaurants had only 7 percent negative ratings, compared to 13 percent for the computer industry.

“Restaurants are the beloved cornerstones of communities across America,” said Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “America’s 1 million restaurants provide opportunity to 14 million Americans and have become an essential part of our everyday lives.”

NRA research shows that nine in 10 consumers say they enjoy going to restaurants, and two in five say restaurants are  essential parts of their lifestyles. Half of all adults have worked in the restaurant industry at some point in their lives, and a third of all Americans got their first job working in a restaurant.

As the nation’s second largest private sector employer, restaurants continue to be economic drivers, employing nearly 10 percent of America’s workforce.

In addition, more than nine of 10 restaurants are involved in charitable activities. Collectively, restaurants contribute about about $3 billion a year to charitable causes.

Gallup noted that restaurants and computers are competitive industries that offer enjoyment and efficiency while not stirring up major political controversies. They have been the top two industries for the past 15 years.