Parents ‘actively discourage’ their children from working in hospitality

More than 40% of parents would actively discourage their children from working in hospitality, a new study has claimed.

A report from independent hotel group Best Western Great Britain – Best Western Careers Index – revealed more than a third of parents (42%) would discourage their child from a career in hospitality, despite there being an estimated 90,000 jobs available.

Some 52% of parents said their reasoning was due to long hours, while 60% said it was because of poor pay.

Best Western also surveyed its hotels on the topic where it found 60% of owners said the most difficult job position to recruit for was chefs.

Medicine was found to be the most preferred career, followed by accountancy and architecture. Sales professionals, farmers and hospitality professionals are the least preferred careers for children.

Rob Payne, Best Western’s CEO, said: “We have enjoyed incredible broadcast exposure for our industry over the last 20 years, probably more media profile than any other industry, and yet despite that we are struggling to fill positions and persuade parents and young people that hospitality is a first choice career and not just a summer job.

“It offers great, diverse and rewarding careers offering fast promotion opportunities based on hard work, not grades, providing school leavers and graduates with a career for life and yet we are clearly suffering a lack of confidence in our industry and its prospects.”