Trade seen as a career by newest workers

A survey from the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) revealed those most likely to see their job as a long-term option with progression opportunities are those working in bar management or for larger firms.

The newest team members (under one year’s experience) were most likely to see hospitality as a career (83%) compared to just over half (54%) of those who have worked in the sector for a decade or more.

While 37% said they felt under pressure due to staff shortages, 21% stated a reduced income was the worst thing about working in the sector.

A further 19% revealed extra shifts was the aspect they disliked most about working in the industry and high customer expectations was the worst part of the job for 14%.

Pressures as a result of staff shortages was felt across all age groups but those in the 55- to 64-year-old group felt it most (46.3%).

Staff support

Those who have worked in the sector for more than a year showed the most fatigue with results being relatively similar among those employed for three to five years (38.8%), more than 10 years (38.7%) and five to 10 years (37.5%).

Nearly half of those surveyed felt hospitality workers were emotionally resilient with just 5% disagreeing.

Some 10% saw signposting by their employers of services provided by the LTC as a way of taking care of them.

However, more than a third (37%) opted for ‘none of the above’ when asked a question about specific support and services (from employee assistance programmes to healthcare and support) being provided by their workplace to take care of staff.

Those with a decade or more experience of working in the sector (37%) and those who worked in firms with over 100 sites (38%) had the greatest awareness of the LTC.

The LTC chief executive James Brewster said: “It was heartening to see 69% of hospitality employees see their role as a career but our research also shows this reduces with the length of employment in the industry, perhaps suggesting people who have worked in the sector for longer aren’t seeing the opportunities they hoped for.

“It also implies those who have worked in the sector the longest, won’t be promoting it as a long-term career."

More work to do

Brewster added: “The LTC was pleased to see awareness of our charity services had increased in recent years however, there was still much work to be done, especially among those new to the industry and working in smaller businesses.

“The charity is here to provide anyone and everyone working in licensed hospitality with support.

“As well as using our services themselves, individual licensees can promote our services to their staff, to provide support and assistance at all times.

“Whether it is using our helplines to offload or to discuss worries or to find out what grants and help here is available, whether you are a licensee of a pub or the chief executive of a pub chain, our services are free for all to use.”

The research included 352 interviews conducted by KAM with pub staff across the UK between 31 August and 15 September 2022.