As we unlock, experts claim British workers should fall back
in love with hospitality jobs to get the economy back on
track.
LONDON, May 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey by
recruitment app, Placed, shows that nearly 60% of job hunters
believe that there is a stigma attached to working in
hospitality and only 33.4% of the people surveyed said they
would be very attracted to working in the hospitality sector full
time.
When asked what would put you off working in hospitality:
- 48.1% quoted pay as an issue
- 42.2% claimed hours are a problem
- 38.2% quoted career prospects
As restrictions are lifted today and it is hoped that the
hospitality sector will help to reboot the economy, experts are
calling for Brits to fall back in love with the sector.
Jennifer Johansson, Founder
and CEO of Placed App says,
"The hospitality sector should be the cornerstone of the UK's
economic recovery, but attitudes towards the sector need to change.
To echo the sentiment of our survey respondents, the industry has a
huge marketing problem. There are great career prospects and
opportunities despite the apparent stigma towards these jobs in the
UK. It does not suffer the same bias in other countries as it does
here in the UK. We need to rebrand the sector, stop relying on
foreign workers and get Brits into these jobs."
"We feel that the government has to make more of an effort to
encourage formal education around the hospitality trade. A more
holistic approach is required to encourage long term change. Job
seekers need the skills and confidence to excel in their roles.
There are plenty of applicants out there, but when they apply for a
job they are told they need experience. Government has to invest in
this area and the need for innovation to drive employment has never
been as important as it is now."
Many employers say they are struggling to recruit enough staff
in the hospitality sector. With large numbers of foreign workers
returning to Europe due to
COVID-19 lockdown and not returning because of Brexit. There are a
lot of vacancies.
But, as the Placed App survey shows, UK adults don't regard
hospitality as a career due to what they perceive as low pay,
long/unstable hours and a lack of career prospects.
- 57.7% said there was a stigma associated with working in
hospitality
- Only 33.4% said they would be very attracted to working in
hospitality full time
- Only 41.2% said they would be very attracted to working in
hospitality part time
- 30.5% said they would be very likely to consider hospitality
work as a long-term career
- Only 21% said nothing is off-putting about the industry
Quotes from responses (approved to use):
"Generally, I believe people who have not experienced
employment in hospitality under appreciate the skills & stamina
required to make that cocktail taste outstanding, to ensure
that meal has the freshest of ingredients, to guarantee your orders
and bookings remain on time, to ensure a venue is staffed
and trained to the highest levels and so much more… only
when someone is immersed in that environment can they
understand what it truly means to be a skilled hospitality
professional!" - James P
"Some cultures regard working for a hotel or restaurant as
inferior, whereas actually it can be glamorous, prosperous
and enriching. Hospitality has a huge marketing problem:
Employment opportunities in the industry aren't being presented in
the best possible ways." - Qualsuma B
Survey carried out between 05/05/21
and 14/05/21 with Placed-App users, 752 responses.
Full survey is available upon request.
Interviews with Jennifer
Johansson + case studies on request
https://placed-app.com/
https://www.buzzleadmedia.com/
Contact: Siobhan Lipnick,
slipnicki@buzzleadmedia.com, +44 7748 634489; Nick Purnell,
npurnell@buzzleadmedia.com, +44 7711 448882