Tourism generates most jobs in L.A. County

LOS ANGELES A study by Jack Kaiser and the L.A. County Economic Development Corporation says tourism and hospitality were responsible for 456,000 jobs in 2007. During that year more than 26 million tourists visited the area, and last year the number of tourists only slightly dipped even though the economy was beginning to suffer.

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The previous number one industry, international trade, dropped due to less cargo traffic at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Economic analysts say that jobs created by tourism don't pay as well as the trade and manufacturing jobs that the county is losing.

Tourism officials say the industry could keep generating jobs in the next few years and continue to boost the county's economy. They feel that local and state officials should continue to promote tourism and attract people to the area.

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