LA Hotels hit by largest job losses in a decade as 'Olympic Wage' mandates bite, data shows Los Angeles hotels are experiencing their most significant workforce decline in a decade outside the pandemic era, according to a new analysis of federal labor data. The Employment Policies Institute (EPI) reported that the hotel and motel sector in Los Angeles County lost 1.7% of its workforce in December 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. This decline coincides with the implementation of aggressive minimum wage mandates, including a citywide hotel-specific wage requirement that reached $22.50 per hour. The EPI’s report, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, highlights a broader trend of economic stagnation in the region. The analysis focused on fourth-quarter employment figures from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), isolating Los Angeles County hotels and motels. The findings underscore a multi-year pattern of job losses tied to the city’s regulatory policies, which critics argue have stifled the hospitality industry. The "Olympic Wage" mandate, formally known as the Citywide Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance, was championed by the hospitality union UNITE HERE Local 11 and enacted under Democratic Mayor Karen Bass. The original phased-in policy required a $2.50 annual increase in base hourly wages for airport and large-scale hotel workers, aiming to reach $30 per hour by 2028. However, the rapid rise in labor costs has led to significant financial strain on businesses, prompting a political backlash from the hotel industry and major airlines like Delta and United.#los_angeles_county #karen_bass #employment_policies_institute #unite_here_local_11 #american_hotel_and_lodging_association
