Jobs vacancies in the hotel sector have increased by nearly 200 percent (196.5 percent) in the five-year period 2013-2017, according to new figures released today by Ireland’s leading recruitment website, Jobs.ie.*
These figures were published in the same week as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphries TD announced changes to Employment Permit Regulations which will make it easier for businesses in the hospitality sector to source workers from outside the EEA.
The hospitality sector is worth €7.2 billion to the Irish economy and supports an estimated 235,000 jobs. Jobs.ie analysed the increase in jobs vacancies in a number of key hotel roles—specifically hotel chefs, bartenders, waiters, receptionists, porters, mixologists and concierges. Every role has experienced growth in the last five years, particularly since 2016.
Jobs vacancies for hotel chefs increased by 149 percent in the period 2013-2017. Although vacancies were down by 9 percent in 2017 compared to 2016, the number remains high.
Hotel bartending jobs vacancies rose by 85 percent in 2017 compared to 2016; mixologist jobs vacancies increased by 80 percent in the same period; and waiting jobs vacancies by 30 percent.
Vacancies for hotel receptionists experienced similar strong growth, rising by 260 percent in the period 2013-2017 and by 44 percent from 2016 to 2017. Hotel porter jobs vacancies increased by 58 percent from 2016 to 2017, and concierge jobs vacancies by 80 percent.
Tourism growth
What accounts for this meteoric rise? According to Christopher Paye, General Manager of Jobs.ie, a diversified tourism sector and Ireland’s continued strong economic health have helped to fuel growth.
“Despite the challenges of the last two years, Ireland’s hotel sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience. 2016, the year of the Brexit vote, was a significant turning point, insofar as we saw hotel jobs vacancies actually increase rather than diminish.
“It seems counterintuitive. The Irish tourism sector has for decades been disproportionately reliant on the UK for revenue. Thankfully, in the last number of years, we’ve begun to diversify our target markets to attract more European, American and Asian tourists. Aided by initiatives like the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East, as well as new air links to North America and Asia, more visitors from around the world are staying longer and spending more in towns, cities and resorts across the country.”
“Ireland’s buoyant tourism market has created plenty of new opportunities for professionals interested in a job or a career working in a hotel, be that in food and drink, or general front-of-house hospitality and management.
Jobs.ie calls for more regularised public consultation
“However, there is a mounting risk that demand for workers will outstrip supply, and this is already proving the case for chefs. With skills shortages left unaddressed, the growth of Ireland’s tourism industry will be short-lived. Hotels will need to think outside the box to attract talented workers from overseas and encourage more Irish professionals to consider a career in hospitality.
“We welcome the recent changes to the Employment Permit Regulations. These changes were brought about after public consultation and review of the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List earlier in the year. Given the ever-changing nature of the hospitality sector, we would ask the Minister to consider a more regularised public consultation with the hospitality industry to ensure to that we are pre-empting and tackling these shortages before they arise.”
