Record numbers employed in hospitality roles

New data has shown that a record 2.6m people are now employed in accommodation and foodservice, with the sector creating one in five new jobs.

The employment numbers from the Office for National Statistics beat the previous record of 2.5m people taken in 2019. Jobs in contract catering, leisure and visitor attractions takes the total number employed by hospitality to around 3.2m.

The impressive numbers are revealed at a time when many pubs, bars and restaurants are facing numerous vacancies and staff shortages. However, even with vacancies being 64% higher than pre-pandemic levels, the sector continues to offer employment opportunities for all.

At its inaugural Workforce and Skills Seminar, trade body UKHospitality highlighted the significant job creation taking place in the sector and its potential to go even further, especially with the right action at the Spring Budget.

UKHospitality is asking the chancellor to reform the Apprenticeship Levy to enable funding to be used for other forms of training and to change its operation to offer greater flexibility to employers and employees over training.

It is also asking for government to implement minor, short-term immigration reforms to counter the sales being lost due to labour shortages, particularly abolishing or reducing the Immigration Skills Charge and offering more flexibility to students to work longer hours.

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