The consumer services industry remains one of the largest and most resilient sectors in the global economy. In 2025, the United States alone employs over 140 million people in consumer service roles, with approximately 9.1 million job openings currently available. These positions span multiple industries—from healthcare and retail to finance, hospitality, and education—offering diverse opportunities for job seekers with different skills and career goals.
This article provides detailed statistics, sector-by-sector breakdowns, salary comparisons, and insight into which areas are experiencing the highest demand.
Understanding Consumer Services
Consumer services are sold directly to individuals and households rather than businesses. These can range from retail stores and hospitality to healthcare, financial services, and education. Unlike goods, which involve physical products, consumer services focus on delivering experiences, solutions, and assistance. Jobs in this sector may involve in-person customer interactions, online support, or a mix of both, and they can vary from entry-level positions to highly specialized professional roles.
Key Consumer Services Job Statistics for 2025
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry reports:
- 140+ million consumer service jobs exist in the U.S.
- 9.1 million positions are currently unfilled.
- The service sector employs 79% of the U.S. workforce.
- Healthcare and social assistance will add 2.1 million jobs over the next decade.
- Retail and wholesale consumer goods report that 70% of job openings remain unfilled.
These figures highlight how important the sector is to the economy and how much hiring activity is still taking place.
Table 1: Top Countries by Consumer Service Job Openings in 2025
| Rank | Country | Available Jobs (Millions) |
| 1 | USA | 9.1 |
| 2 | China | 4.2 |
| 3 | Japan | 3.1 |
| 4 | Germany | 2.4 |
| 5 | UK | 2.0 |
Available Jobs by Industry
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
This supersector has around 1.6 million job openings. Wholesale trade employs sales representatives, truck drivers, and purchasing specialists, while retail trade relies heavily on cashiers, customer service representatives, and stock clerks. The transportation and warehousing field is hiring airline pilots, bus drivers, railroad conductors, and marine workers. Utilities see fewer job changes but continue to recruit electrical engineers, line installers, and repair supervisors.
Education and Health Services
Education and health combined have 1.9 million job openings, with healthcare representing the larger share. Education roles include teachers, administrators, and support staff, while healthcare openings range from home health aides to licensed vocational nurses and medical managers.
Financial Activities
The financial activity supersector offers 565,000 openings, with finance and insurance accounting for the majority. Roles here include accountants, auditors, insurance agents, and loan officers. Real estate and rental services are also hiring property managers, brokers, and leasing clerks. Skills like bookkeeping are in high demand for managing records and ensuring compliance.
Information Services
With 265,000 openings, information services cover publishing, broadcasting, telecommunications, and IT-based positions. Jobs include graphic designers, producers, electronics engineers, and software developers.
Leisure and Hospitality
This supersector has 1.4 million job openings and includes arts, entertainment, hotels, and restaurants. Positions range from food preparation and service to recreation attendants and fitness trainers.
Professional and Business Services
With another 1.4 million openings, this category includes accountants, architects, managers, janitors, landscapers, and office support roles.
Other Services
The “other services” category holds 328,000 openings for mechanics, hairdressers, laundry workers, and repair technicians.
Table 2: Highest-Paying Consumer Service Sectors
| Sector | Average Annual Salary |
| Finance | $120,000–$150,000 |
| Energy (Electric & Gas) | $130,000 |
| Scientific R&D | $123,000 |
| Software Development | $100,000–$123,000 |
| HR (Senior Roles) | Up to $200,000 |
Do Consumer Services Jobs Pay Well?
Earnings vary widely across the sector. At the top end, finance, energy, and R&D roles command six-figure salaries, while programming and software development positions also pay competitively. On the lower end, food services and leisure jobs average $20,000–$30,000 per year, reflecting the difference in skills, training, and demand.
Career Growth & Outlook
Consumer services Jobs are projected to remain in high demand because many roles require human interaction that can’t be easily automated. For those seeking job stability, the sector offers clear opportunities for career advancement. People with customer-facing skills, technical expertise, or industry-specific knowledge can progress into management or specialized professional positions.
If you’re also interested in trends beyond consumer services, you can explore related industries in Public Utility Job Opportunities in 2025.
Biggest Consumer Services Companies
As reported by value today, the largest companies by market capitalization in consumer services include Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, McDonald’s, Comcast, Disney, Lowe’s, Starbucks, and TJX Companies. These organizations represent a mix of retail, entertainment, and hospitality, all of which have a significant global workforce.
FAQs
Q1: What is considered a consumer services job?
A consumer services job is any role that provides services directly to individuals or households, such as retail sales, hospitality, healthcare, financial services, and customer support.
Q2: How many jobs are available in consumer services in 2025?
In 2025, the United States has over 140 million consumer service jobs, with around 9.1 million positions currently unfilled across various industries.
Q3: Which industries have the most consumer service job openings?
The largest numbers of openings are in healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and financial activities.
Q4: What are the highest-paying jobs in consumer services?
Finance, energy, scientific research, and software development offer some of the highest salaries, often ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 per year or more.
Q5: Are consumer service jobs a good career choice?
Yes. Consumer services jobs often offer stability, career growth opportunities, transferable skills, and consistent demand, making them a strong choice for job seekers in many fields.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, consumer services remains one of the most dynamic and diverse sectors for employment. With millions of openings, strong demand, and roles ranging from entry-level positions to high-salary professional careers, it continues to attract job seekers across the globe. Those who focus on skill-building and target high-growth industries stand the best chance of advancing quickly in this field.
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