The end of the staff shortage in the hospitality industry is nowhere in sight. No matter which news site you scroll through or which job site you open, hospitality job vacancies are everywhere. Updates hospitality employees experience the consequences of the shortage of colleagues every day and face an unhealthily high workload. And hospitality businesses are forced to adjust their services.
Unprecedented number of vacancies
Figures from the CBS show that the number of vacancies is incredibly high and does not seem to be decreasing. At the beginning of 2020 – just before the pandemic – there were 9,600 vacancies, and at the start of this year, there were almost four times as many, namely 36,000. In the first quarter of 2022, there was even a peak of 45,400 open vacancies.
Additionally, we see that the number of permanent staff has never been so low within the hospitality sector: nearly 53% now work on a call basis. And only 24% have a permanent contract with fixed hours.
Pulling out all the stops
These figures speak volumes about the Updates situation. Fortunately, you see more and more employers pulling out all the stops to attract and retain new employees. But unfortunately, we also still see (too) many employers who are fixated on young, relatively cheap (unqualified) workers who often leave after a short time. Don’t we want to move away from the image of the hospitality industry as a part-time job factory and become a mature sector where employees can build a career and work with passion? Because working in hospitality is truly a profession that requires learning if you want to offer quality and standards.
Valuing experience
Currently, no less than 73% of employees are under 35 years old. And more than half (57%) are even under 25 years old. If we really want to tackle the staff shortages, we must also make and keep the sector attractive for employees over 35. Those who do not see this, in my opinion, should not complain about the staff shortage. And yes, it is true that the salary costs of ‘older’ colleagues are higher than those of younger ones. But I argue that these people also bring much more value. Insights and skills pay off many times over!
Certainty. That is what employees want nowadays. A good salary is one thing, but income security and a good work-life balance are equally important. We must focus on the needs of (potential) employees instead of high demands from employers. Employers simply cannot afford that luxury. And ‘Chapeau’ to those who think ‘out of the box’ and give new target groups like career changers, over-55s, and status holders a chance and train them themselves!
Edwin Vlek
Union representative FNV hospitality