Labour shortage, the big problem for European tourism

04-08-22

A series of independent studies by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed that the recovery of the travel and tourism sector in Europe could be in jeopardy if millions of jobs across the continent remain unfilled.

The research looked at labour shortages in Europe's top Travel & Tourism destinations, including France, Spain, the UK, Italy and Portugal.

France

In France, for example, a shortfall of 71,000 jobs is forecast, with one in 19 vacancies going unfilled this year.

In 2019, before the pandemic, more than 1.3 million people were working in Travel & Tourism in France. But by 2020, almost 175,000 had lost their jobs.

France saw the start of recovery in 2021, with a 40.6% growth in the sector's contribution to the national economy. However, staff shortages have been prevalent in the country, with thousands of vacancies remaining unfilled, putting the sector under pressure.

WTTC analysis shows that French aviation will be one of the hardest hit, with difficulties in finding candidates for almost one in three (38%) jobs, while travel agencies could also face a third (39%) of staff shortages. 

Italy

Italy, meanwhile, is the hardest hit European country, with a projected shortfall of 250,000 workers, and one in six vacancies likely to go unfilled this year.

The gap between supply and demand is expected to widen further in the third quarter, when demand in the sector is likely to approach pre-crisis levels.

Before the pandemic, in 2019, almost 1.4 million people worked in Travel & Tourism in Italy. But in 2020, more than 200,000 jobs were lost.

Italy had a strong recovery since 2021, with a 58.5% growth in the sector's contribution to the national economy. However, staff shortages have been prevalent in the country, with thousands of vacancies remaining unfilled, putting the sector under severe pressure.

WTTC analysis shows that the accommodation and travel agency sectors in Italy are the most affected, with more than a third (38%) and almost half (42%) of vacancies remaining unfilled, respectively.

Portugal

Portugal, another of Europe's top tourist destinations, is expected to suffer a shortfall of 49,000 workers in the third quarter of 2022, with one in 10 vacancies going unfilled this year, making it the least affected of the countries analysed.

Before the pandemic, in 2019, more than 485,000 people were employed in Travel & Tourism in Portugal. But in 2020, more than 80,000 jobs were lost.

Portugal saw the start of recovery in 2021, with 32.6% growth in the sector's contribution to the national economy. However, staff shortages have been prevalent in the country, with thousands of vacancies remaining unfilled, putting the sector under pressure.

WTTC analysis shows that the Portuguese hospitality industry will be the hardest hit, with both the hotels and food and beverage segments expected to have 13% (one in eight) and 12% (one in eight) of unfilled jobs, respectively.

United Kingdom

Last but not least, the UK is expected to experience a shortfall of 128,000 jobs, with one in 14 vacancies expected to go unfilled. 

The UK's hospitality, leisure and aviation sectors are expected to be hardest hit, facing unfilled vacancies of 18% (one in six), 12% (one in eight) and 11% (one in nine) respectively.

Staff shortages are now acute in the transport sector, especially in the aviation sector, which is struggling to cope with travel demand in the wake of the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, in 2019, 1.8 million people were employed in the UK travel and tourism sector; by 2020, more than 200,000 had lost their jobs.