Surge in hospitality jobs as the sector gears up for Christmas
Our research, which surveyed 100 hospitality hiring decision makers and 2,000 UK adults, finds over half (51%) of hospitality businesses are increasing their staffing levels by hiring on average eight new workers, which according to our research, could boost hospitality hiring by almost 700,000 more staff this festive season.
Sustained demand for talent in the sector has seen daily listings on our platform rise by almost 30% throughout the year as the workforce increases. With growing numbers of people looking for flexible ways to make income. We have also experienced a strong rise in people applying for these jobs.
The resilience of the experience economy
Despite the rising cost of living putting a strain on consumers’ finances, our research shows people are prioritising hospitality experiences, with three in 10 (30%) agreeing visits to pubs, bars, and restaurants are their favourite time of the week.
Whilst a third (30%) of consumers continue to enjoy hospitality experiences without cutting back on other aspect of their lives, one fifth (20%) have cut back on spending elsewhere to enjoy drinks, meals out and overnight stays. The most common things people are sacrificing to continue enjoying hospitality include cutting back on energy usage at home (55%), grocery shopping (47%), buying new clothes (44%), and subscriptions (31%).
Over half (52%) of the UK agree they would rather spend their money on experiences than material items; and almost two-thirds (57%) say they’d rather see friends for a drink than meet up with them to go shopping.
With people prioritising buying experiences, over half (56%) have seen a shift on their local high street; observing more shops turning into hospitality venues such as cafes, microbreweries, and pubs, reflecting demand and resilience within the cost-of-living crisis.
“Despite the cost-of-living crisis and the longstanding skills challenge in the sector, hospitality businesses are preparing for a busy festive season and are hiring accordingly. The industry offers a wealth of incredible short and long-term career options that are rewarding, flexible, and social, and the aim is that many of the temporary roles created over Christmas will turn into permanent jobs. As businesses continue to deliver on consumer demand in the “experience economy”, hospitality remains a crucial part of UK society and community. Even with the seasonal boost to the sector, its ability to offer long-term roles and remain resilient depends on government support to address some of the difficulties it is facing. Helping the sector to tackle high energy and food costs, and providing business rates relief, particularly for smaller and independent businesses, is essential to fuel confidence in 2024.”
Kathy DyballDirector at Caterer.com
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