Hospitality third biggest growth sector for jobs
It is the third fastest-growing industry for jobs, after real estate and transportation (both up 41 per cent).
Hospitality is also one of only four sectors where job postings did not drop between August and September, even showing a 1 per cent increase. The other sectors that performed well are retail, accounting and education.
David Rudick, vice president, international markets, Indeed.com, said: “It’s no surprise that job postings increased in September 2014 compared to the same time last year – reflected by statistics that unemployment has recently fallen below the 2 million mark.”
300 new jobs in Scotland
The job statistics came just as Scotland announced a pledge from 100 hospitality and tourism businesses to create 342 job opportunities for young people.
These will include 97 jobs, 65 apprenticeships and 180 work experience opportunities to help reduce unemployment amongst 16-24 year olds in Scotland.
The pledge was announced on 22 October at The Big Hospitality Conversation meeting in Glasgow’s Marriott Hotel, organised by the British Hospitality Association (BHA).
William Macleod, executive director of BHA Scotland said: “Tourism and hospitality are almost unique in their capacity to build international cultural understanding. What’s important now is that tourism is given every support to succeed, grow and compete internationally.
“The sector has consistently demonstrated resilience, adaptability and innovation, especially over the last five years or so and is showing clear signs of recovery. This recovery can be sustained if the economic and political conditions are in place to support this. There are a number of British and international hospitality organisations that are investing in Scotland and others have declared their interest in doing the same.”
Vibrant industry
Barclays research has estimated that domestic tourists will contribute over £13bn to the Scottish economy by 2017 and that foreign tourism spend in Scotland would grow by 40 per cent in the same time.
Ufi Ibrahim, BHA CEO, added: “Hospitality is a vibrant and successful industry with even greater growth prospects offering a vast range of career opportunities.”
Over 34,000 job opportunities have so far been created at Big Hospitality Conversation events, and the BHA aims to bring this number to 60,000 by 2016.
Looking for a job in hospitality? Check out our dedicated job board - jobs.bighospitality.co.uk - for the latest vacancies across restaurants, hotels, pubs, clubs and bars.
