The World Cup was expected to give U.S. travel and hospitality a summer hiring lift. Instead, the June jobs report delivered a surprise. Leisure and hospitality lost 61,000 jobs, raising questions about how strongly major events are translating into employment.

Travel Weekly reported that the sector shed jobs in June despite expectations tied to the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Reuters also reported that overall U.S. job growth slowed sharply, with leisure and hospitality showing the largest decline among major categories.

The numbers do not necessarily mean travelers stayed home. Hotels, restaurants and event cities may still be seeing strong demand. But hiring data can tell a different story because businesses may rely on existing staff, technology, temporary labor or cautious scheduling rather than adding permanent workers.

The report also shows how complicated event economics can be. A World Cup match can fill rooms and bars in one city, but national employment data spreads across thousands of businesses. Some regions benefit intensely, while others see little change. Seasonal adjustments can also blur the immediate effect.

For the travel industry, the job losses are still a warning. Strong crowds do not automatically create broad labor strength. Operators remain careful because fuel prices, wages, inflation and consumer uncertainty all affect margins. The summer may still be busy, but the hiring boom many expected has not clearly arrived.