Staff shortages in hospitality hit record high

The hospitality sector is experiencing 83% more vacancies across the sector compared to March to May 2019 - the most recent comparable period – despite the sector creating nearly 300,000 new jobs over the last 12 months.

According to the new figures, hospitality currently has 174,000 jobs available, a record high, in a climate where those that are economically inactive and wanting a job have fallen by about 130,000 over the same period.

“These figures show that the hospitality industry continues to return to growth and is attracting new people into the workforce. However, high vacancy rates are impeding our ability to trade. This is particularly concerning as we enter the summer, a key trading period for much of the sector,” says UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls.

Last month UKHospitality launched its Workforce Strategy in order to tackle the staffing crisis in the sector, which includes including working with colleges and universities to attract students into work this summer.

Nicholls is calling on the Government to review its current point-based system for employment to make it easier for seasonal and lower skilled workers to enter the workforce and for the apprenticeship levy to be freed-up to help the sector attract the workforce it needs.