SOME FACTS ABOUT THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Catering & Hospitality Employment Progression Routes

These include contract food service providers, Events, Holiday parks, Hospitality services, Hostels, Hotels, Membership clubs, Restaurants, Self-catering accommodation, Tourist services, Travel services and Visitor attractions.

Workforce

The sector employs nearly two million people. The restaurant industry is the largest industry in terms of employment employing over half a million people (29% of the workforce), followed by hospitality services (19%), pubs, bars and nightclubs (17%) and hotels (13%). The sector employs a young workforce, with 16% of staff aged 16-19 and a further 32% aged 20-29. 54% of the workforce are full-time staff.

Core occupations

The sector employs both a large number of core occupations (specific to the sector) and additional occupations (found in most sectors). The following provides employment numbers for some of the sector’s core occupations:

Kitchen and catering assistants (393,500)
Chefs/cooks (252,800)
Waiting staff (219,300)
Bar staff (209,500)
Restaurant and catering managers (154,100)

Hard-to-fill vacancies and skill shortages

Close to 1 in 8 (8%) of establishments report having vacancies which are hard to fill with 31% of all vacancies proving hard-to-fill. 61% of these vacancies are hard-to-fill because applicants lack the required skills. 41% of employers report that applicants lack customer handling skills, 41% oral communications skills with 35% lacking problem solving skills and 34% team working.