New research has been released by the HATS Network to examine the changing skills and labour market across the tourism and hospitality sector in Northern Ireland.
State of the Workforce 2023 sheds light on some of the deep-rooted staffing issues impacting upon the sector, leading to calls for greater investment in employee retention and development. Findings include:
▶️ 84% of employers said they had experienced difficulties filling vacancies in the past twelve months.
▶️ 67% said that they experienced challenges in retaining staff, with some employers estimating annual turnover to be as high as 75%.
▶️ Only 30% of employers feel the training and development they offer fully meets the skills needs of employees.
The research highlights the need to prioritise leadership and management skills to help businesses recruit, retain and develop employees more effectively – and to take action to close the skills gap to help grow an internationally competitive industry.
The reports showcase the approaches that employers are taking to alleviate the challenges faced and aims to help employers across the sector to better address their workforce needs, directly informing the decisions they make with regard to skills development.
