Vacancies up more than a third on 2021

16-Aug-2022 - Last updated on 16-Aug-2022 at 10:46 GMT

Job vacancies: British Beer & Pub Association boss Emma McClarkin called on the Government to make it easier to recruit and retain staff (image: Getty/skynesher)

Job vacancies in the hospitality sector have risen by 44,000 (34%) compared to last year despite a small fall over the past three months, according to official figures.

Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed from May to July 2021, there were 129,000 empty job roles.

However, the data also showed between May and July, vacancies in the accommodation and food service activities were at the same number as March to May – 173,000.

This was marginally below the levels of April to June 2022 where figures showed vacancies at 174,000 – a drop of just under 0.6%.

Sector innovating

Once again, the sector has the second highest number of empty roles, only behind the human health and social work industry, which had 221,000 vacancies.

The first time the hospitality sector reported more than 100,000 empty roles was in April to June 2021 where vacancies increased from 74,000 to 107,000 – a 45% jump.

British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Staffing shortages are causing major issues for pubs and other hospitality businesses, with almost half of operators reducing hours throughout the week because they don’t have enough staff.

“Our sector is already innovating by offering new training opportunities and flexible hours to encourage people into a career in hospitality, but they can’t solve the issue alone."

Industry viability

She added: “The Government must make it easier to recruit and retain staff, for example by allowing greater flexibility in the apprenticeship levy and increasing the number of hospitality qualifications available so young people can be confident our sector provides a long-term career path.

“As an industry we rely on brilliant people for our businesses to thrive and so we need a forward-looking plan on labour shortages so they don’t continue to threaten our sector’s viability.”

Staff shortages in the sector have been at a record high, according to UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls, who estimated this has resulted in £21bn of lost revenue.

She added: "At the same time, operating costs are soaring across the board for businesses already carrying heavy debt levels from the pandemic. The industry needs urgent support from the Government if it is to survive and generate jobs and growth. In short, the recovery of the sector and the UK economy are being threatened by the workforce crisis."

Meanwhile, research from Fourth earlier this month (August) found staffing levels were nearing pre-pandemic levels.

However, ONS data puts vacancies in the January to March 2020 period at 85,000 – 103% lower than the current levels.