For several years the hospitality sector has faced chronic recruitment difficulties. Vacancies in the hospitality sector account for 14% of all vacancies reported to job centres. 

Most vacancies are for chefs and cooks, bar staff, waiting staff and catering assistants. Bar and waiting occupations are both forecast to grow over the next decade at a rate above the industry average so recruitment for these occupations is likely to continue to be problematic, although since 2001 there has been some fall in the number of vacancies.

The hotel sub-sector is becoming increasingly dependent on information technology. Specifically, ICT skills are required in the use of the internet, e-mail, word-processing, spreadsheets and databases and to facilitate internal business systems.

Given the rate of change within the industry there is a growing demand for management expertise. Only 9.8% of hotel managers and 6.2% of restaurant and catering managers hold a management level qualification. Managers in the industry need particular skills in people management; commercial skills and business acumen; problem solving; succession planning; resource planning.

UK demographic changes are likely to impact on the industry's skills supply. 40% of the sector’s workforce is under the age of 25, but the age of the workforce in England is rising. The result is an increase of older workers in search of employment security and career progression which the hospitality sector does not necessarily offer. There has, however, been an increase in the number of employees aged 30-49 since 2001.

See the Equal opportunities issues section for more discussion about the age of the sector’s workforce.

Source: HtF/VT Plus Training 2003, Hospitality Sector Report 2002 and Rowley, et al. 2000

Current and future skills needs in the hospitality sector and sub-sectors, 2002

Table shows the numbers in employment in the sector by sub-sectors plus projected growth for 2009 in numbers and percentages. Sub-sectors include restaurants; pubs, clubs and bars; hotels; contract catering; and hospitality services.