While the U.S. government’s latest employment report showed jobs continuing to bounce back in the restaurant industry in January, the recovery remains incomplete, with the U.S. restaurant sector still down over 1 million jobs compared to pre-pandemic levels. Employment at food service and drinking places—the major component of the total restaurant and foodservice industry—rose by a net 108,200 jobs in January, according to Feb. 4 data released by the Labor Department. Overall, U.S. employers added 467,000 jobs over the month. But while January’s payrolls figures represented the 13th consecutive month of job gains for eating and drinking establishments, the industry remains around 1 million jobs down compared to pre-pandemic levels. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and the imposition of lockdowns that decimated the hospitality industry, eating and drinking places employed 12 million people out of the total restaurant and foodservice workforce of 15.6 million, according to the National Restaurant Association. “While …