WTTC Paper on Staff Shortages Jan 22
A 10-page summary which reminds the reader that in 2020 62 million travel and tourism jobs were lost worldwide due to the pandemic, with the sector having accounted for 1 in every 10 jobs back in 2019.
But the thrust of the report looks at the potential for staff shortages to hold back recovery of the sector, most acutely in developed countries.
One reason cited for the shortages is that the prolonged closure of many tourism businesses by government edict has resulted in former staff finding opportunities in new sectors of the economy. This is a challenge as according to WTTC forecasts by the end of 2022 the global travel and tourism jobs tally will be 324 million, just 10 million shy of its 2019 level.
The fresh analysis presented covers the situation in the UK, the US, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal during the second half of 2021. This finds that supply fell short of demand for labour in each country, with the shortfall ratio varying 1 in 6 in Portugal to 1 in 11 in Spain.
The report makes several recommendations as to how labour shortages can be addressed including the need to facilitate labour mobility, facilitate remote working, ensure decent work and the provision of social safety nets, upskilling and re-skilling the workforce, and promoting education and apprenticeships.