More staff leaving sector now than during the pandemic

The latest data from workforce management company Fourth reveals that 8.3% of the workforce left the sector between August and September, the highest percentage of leavers since 15.6% of people left their roles in March 2020.

The pub sector is the hardest hit, according to the data, with 10.8% of staff leaving their jobs in pubs, followed by restaurants, where employment numbers fell by 9.8%.  Quick serve restaurants saw a 8.1% decline in their workforce with hotels seeing a slightly slower rate of departure at 6.5%

However, overall staffing numbers in the industry remain higher than a year ago with similar numbers of recruits joining as to those leaving, says Fourth.

The overall headcount across hospitality grew 8.8% in the 12 months to September 2022, but numbers fell by 2% between August and September

Restaurant staff numbers are up 7.2% from a year ago but fell by 4% between August and September and pubs now have 4.4% fewer workers than a year ago.

The data, which is compiled from a database of more than 700 companies across the restaurant, pub, bar, and hotel sectors, also shows the percentage of non-EU workers in hospitality stands at 20.1%, drawing closer to EU workers at 24.3%. British workers currently make up around 55.5% of the workforce, a figure that has remained stable throughout 2022.

More than a quarter (25.7%) of people starting jobs in hospitality are from a non-EU background.

“The latest data in the Fourth Hospitality Workforce Report shows that the industry is precariously placed. While staff numbers and collective hours worked remain solid, this is set against a backdrop of inflation at a four-decade high, the cost-of-living crisis, rising fuel costs and an understandably cautious consumer base, all making it far harder to turn a profit than a year ago,” says Sebastien Sepierre, managing director, EMEA, at Fourth.

“Any successful hospitality business’ biggest asset is a committed and talented team, which is why recruitment and retention are so vital. There are currently as many people starting jobs as leaving them.

“It is now essential that operators focus on retention and ensuring that recruits can see the benefits and rewards that a long-term career in hospitality offers. If not, they face the prospect of continual rounds of recruitment rather than consolidating teams to drive their businesses forward.”