Survey suggests number of hospitality jobs will increase in 2013
According to the 54 hospitality businesses questioned for the Barclays Job Creation Survey, the industry has a more positive outlook for this year than last when just 55 per cent of business owners said they would look to create more jobs.
Those already working in the industry should also take comfort in the fact that the majority of business owners are planning to keep hold of the staff they have with 77 per cent saying they did not plan to make any job losses over the next 12 months.
Mike Saul, head of hospitality & leisure, corporate banking, Barclays, said: “Despite the discretionary nature of the hospitality and leisure sector, it is one of the largest employers in the UK, and has weathered the economic storm well. It is well-placed to offer opportunities to a broad spectrum of individuals from many different employment backgrounds, and as our research shows, there is clearly room and appetite to develop these aspirations.”
Public sector workers
According to the survey results, 50 per cent of the restaurants, hotels and pubs questioned said they would be interested in hiring ex-public sector workers compared to the cross-industry average of 43 per cent across the 700 UK businesses surveyed.
Meanwhile, 72 per cent said a reduction in employer's National Insurance contribution would have a positive impact on the job market with 33 per cent stating it would have a 'major' impact on the market, making the Government's plans to introduce the Employment Allowance, as mentioned in March's Budget a welcome one.
Minimum Wage rises
The news comes as the Government announced it would be raising the National Minimum Wage rate for adults by 12p to £6.31 in October. The rate will rise 5p to £5.03 for 18 to 20-year-olds and by 4p to £3.72 for 16 and 17-year-olds.
Martin Couchman, deputy chief executive of the British Hospitality Association said: “Few industries can match hospitality’s impact on economic vitality and jobs. As the UK’s fourth largest industry, there is no denying that the 12 pence minimum wage increase for adults will have an impact on wage bills throughout the hospitality sector.
However, this increase was always expected and we believe that our members will have generally planned for a rise in the national minimum wage this year. We are pleased that the accommodation offset, for which we have continued to fight to keep over the last 14 years, is to continue. This means employers can still provide accommodation for their employees and count it as a benefit in kind towards payment of the minimum wage.”
See BigHospitality's sister website jobs.bighospitality.co.uk for all the latest hospitality jobs.
