UKHospitality and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) have joined forces to promote hospitality job opportunities as the industry faces a UK-wide shortage of workers following 15 months of decimation, closures and severely restricted trading as businesses begin tentatively reopening.
The trade body wants to demonstrate the wide range of jobs and career options available in the sector to UK workers. To promote these opportunities, UKHospitality will be running sessions in partnership with Jobcentre Plus work coaches in Scotland, Wales and England this month.
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said, “We’re delighted to be working with the government to restore confidence in a sector that is a stable employer for millions of skilled and unskilled workers across a wide range of diverse roles, and that can play a constructive role in tackling unemployment.
“Prior to covid, the hospitality industry employed 3.2m people in the UK, making it the third largest private sector employer in the UK. The government can help to restore confidence in the sector so, once again, it as seen as a dynamic sector of growth and a provider of fulfilling careers that will help power the UK’s economic and social recovery.”
UK Minister for employment Mims Davies said “It’s been a challenging time for the hospitality sector but our roadmap is giving employers the confidence to hire and our brilliant work coaches are helping them recruit local talent.”
A recent UKHospitality survey suggested a current vacancy rate across the sector of 9%, which implies a shortage of 188,000 workers. The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) said a survey carried out by the trade body showed 62% of businesses are struggling to employ staff within the sector.
The NTIA added, “The industry is suffering, in many cases, from the success of the furlough scheme where many workers have decided not to return to the industry.”