There are interesting issues about the age structure of the hospitality workforce which include: 

• 40% of the workforce is below 25, an increase of 10% over 1999 and high in comparison with the national average of 14%
• the industry has a lower than average proportion of ‘prime-aged’ workers, defined as those aged between 25 and 59 
• 19% of workers in the industry are in their 30s, down from 20% in 1999 (compared to 27.4% across all industries)
• 13% of employees in hospitality are in their 40s, down from 18% in 1999 (compared to 23.1% across all industries)

Since 2001 there has been some change with an increase in employees aged 30-49, but there is considerable variation across sectors e.g. 25% of pub employees are under 19 and 20% of contract catering employees are over 50.

Source: HfT/VT Plus Training 2003 and Hospitality Sector Report  2002