New European ‘skills passport’ to help hospitality recruitment

The European Commission has launched a new scheme to help employers across the EU employ skilled workers in the hospitality and tourism sector.

The European Hospitality Skills Passport will help employers to easily compare hospitality workers’ skills in order to facilitate recruitment in the sector, and will be made available to employers who sign up to the online service called EURES.

The Skills Passport allows workers to record the skills and competencies gained during their education, training and practical experience in an easily accessible format.

It complements the traditional CV and enables employers to quickly overcome language barriers and find the skilled workers they need to fill their vacancies.

Laszlo Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusions, said: “The European Hospitality Skills Passport is an important practical tool to promote mobility of European workers, especially young people, in a sector that has high growth potential.

“This initiative is also a good example of the outcome of social dialogue between employee and employer organisations at European level, and we look forward to seeing this cooperation expand into other sectors of the labour market.”

The hospitality sector plays an important part in fighting youth unemployment and has a significant impact on jobs and growth and the health of other sectors. Between 2000 and 2010 the hospitality sector grew by 2.9 per cent per year, creating over 2.5 million jobs, compared with an average rate of 0.7 per cent.

From June 23 to June 27 the European Commission will run the European Skills Passport Thematic Week which will introduce the new initiative through a series of online events.