Fáilte Ireland has released its Tourism Careers Labour Market Research 2024, revealing that recruitment and retention challenges in the tourism and hospitality sector have significantly eased since the peak difficulties in 2022.
Conducted in partnership with Jobs.ie, the research survey, drawing on insights from 673 participants, was presented to tourism leaders at Fáilte Ireland’s Employer Excellence Exchange on November 13th at Clontarf Castle.
Commenting on the research, Christopher Paye, Revenue Director for The Stepstone Group Ireland, with responsibility for Jobs.ie said:
“With record numbers of people in work and continued low unemployment rates, there continues to be significant competition for talent across a range of sectors. In this recruitment environment, hospitality employers are proving to be responsive.
Conducted in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, our research indicates they are evolving their talent offerings to attract top talent with flexibility, skills development, and career progression a focus.
Engaged, committed, and motivated staff are essential to the success of any business but especially so in hospitality. Hospitality relies on human connection to deliver exceptional service, with every guest interaction, from the first to the last, shaped by a hospitality business’ staff. It is why strategies to attract, recruit, and retain key talent should remain a top priority for employers in the sector.”
Key research findings
The research carried out highlights significant improvements in recruitment within the hospitality sector over the past three years, though challenges remain. The proportion of employers struggling to hire chefs has dropped from 88% in 2021 to 54% this year, with similar declines seen in difficulties recruiting bar staff (down from 70% to 24%) and waitstaff (from 62% to 17%).
However, about one-third of employers continue to report issues hiring drivers and managers. The impact of these lingering is notable, with two-thirds of employers citing increased job stress and 60% pointing to a negative effect on customer experience.
Despite these improvements, only 14% of employers see these challenges as a risk to business viability, down from 30% in 2021. Interestingly, despite progress, employees feel that overall working conditions have stagnated this year, with declines in extra pay for unsocial hours and perceived career progression opportunities impacting long-term career aspirations in the sector.
The research findings also show that efforts to make tourism an appealing and rewarding industry are beginning to yield positive results, with key findings presenting:
1. Reduced Recruitment and Retention Challenges: For the third consecutive year, difficulties in hiring and retaining talent have decreased as businesses have improved work environments and conditions. The report notes that 64% of those currently employed in tourism and hospitality are looking to stay within the sector, but employers must stay competitive to retain talent, including by offering career growth, skills development, and flexible work options.
2. Gaps in Communication Persist: While employers report positive changes in work conditions, a significant gap remains between what businesses say they offer and employees’ perceptions. Effective communication of improvements remains essential to shift perceptions and enhance workplace morale.
3. Motivators for Talent: Passion, career progression opportunities, flexibility, and accessibility of the sector continue to be major draws for employees in tourism. Improved perceptions of pay are also contributing to positive sentiments, with 60% of employees now reporting better compensation.
Jenny De Saulles, Director of Sector Development at Fáilte Ireland said:
“It’s encouraging to see the progress of our industry has made in creating better workplaces and narrowing the gap in recruitment and retention since 2022. However, we must keep building on this momentum. In a competitive labour market, there’s no room to ease up – businesses need to keep innovating, listening to their employees, and striving to make tourism a sector of choice for long-term, fulfilling careers. Fáilte Ireland remains committed to supporting the sector through programmes that advance both employer practices and employee satisfaction.”