“problem has worsened”
Hospitality is missing more than 65,000 employees
7/21/2023 8:06 am
Skilled workers are not only desperately needed in nursing and trades, the hospitality industry is also currently lacking thousands of employees. This is now having an effect on opening hours and service. The industry still has hope.
According to the DEHOGA industry association, hotels and restaurants in Germany currently need more than 65,000 additional employees. “According to the monthly DEHOGA surveys, the lack of employees is regularly one of the biggest challenges for companies,” the association said. “The Federal Employment Agency reports 33,160 vacancies in the hospitality industry for June. However, we assume that the actual need is at least twice as high, since many companies no longer report their vacancies to the employment agencies or job centers,” said DEHOGA labor market expert Sandra Warden.
Warden underpinned the estimate by looking at the figures from June 2019: At that time, almost 40,000 vacancies were reported. “And as we know, the problem has gotten immensely worse since then (as a result of the corona pandemic),” Warden said. “Especially now, in the holiday season and the associated increased demand in tourist destinations, demand is increasing.”
“Forced to reduce opening hours”
The catering establishments are now reacting in a variety of ways to the tense situation on the labor market. “There are businesses that feel compelled to shorten their opening hours, introduce rest days or concentrate the menu offerings,” said Warden. In some restaurants it has recently been observed that more self-service is being used instead of complete service at the table.
At DEHOGA, however, there is hope that the industry can quickly benefit from the possibilities of reformed immigration and the easier employment of refugees. In addition, the association calls for an offensive for dual training and more appreciation for practical professions and activities.