Hospitality recruitment up 22% in Q2, as wages rise

Recruitment in the hospitality industry for the three months to June 30 has soared 22% compared with the same period last year, according to hospitality jobs website Caterer.com. 

The site’s Hospitality Employment Index report said 43,787 jobs were advertised during the period. In total, 151,452 jobs were advertised on the site by employers between June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2014, representing a 17% rise.

The report also indicated a 14% increase in the proportion of advertised jobs carrying salaries over £30,000, with an 11% reduction in the proportion of salaries advertised under £20,000. Overall salary growth for the industry is expected to be 3% for the full year.

In a regional analysis, the report also found that while London continues to recruit at the highest levels, with 12,000 jobs advertised over the past year, jobs advertised in Scotland also increased by 21% and in Wales grew by 16%.

Caterer.com also disclosed that chef roles represented five of the top 10 roles advertised. Over the past 12 months this represents 38% of all roles advertised.

Neil Pattison, sales director at Caterer.com, said: “We are now seeing signs of long term, perhaps even sustainable growth. Jobs are being created across all sectors of the hospitality industry, from food service to restaurants and pubs and bars to hotels.

“Yet with this upturn [come] new challenges for hospitality businesses. Attracting more people to the industry is more important perhaps than ever before and employers need to remain competitive in the war for talent. As such, we’re seeing talent retention and engagement become central to every hospitality business’s strategy.”