Hospitality holiday job posts plummet

Job postings for work during the summer in hospitality are down 25% year-on-year according to new data.

Students looking to gain experience and earn cash to help pay for their studies may be disappointed by the lack of opportunities, with 22,369 fewer unique postings for jobs in hospitality this year, according to data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

The fall in vacancies is symptomatic of the struggles faced by hospitality operators, who are running on lower staff levels due to the increased pressure of taxation on the sector. It puts at risk the opportunity for students and those looking for their first job to gain the valuable skills and development needed to work in the sector.

According to UKHospitality, 84,000 jobs have been lost since the changes made to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) announced in the 2024 Budget, in addition to the reduction in new temporary opportunities.

UKHospitality chief executive Allen Simpson said: “This is the time when hospitality businesses would be frantically hiring staff for the busy summer months, when the sector expects to welcome families to their hotels, and serve millions of people with ice-cream on the beach, fish and chips on the pier, and cold pints in the pub garden.

“I know from personal experience how important hospitality summer jobs are for getting young people experience of work, however hiring this year has fallen off dramatically, with 22,000 fewer jobs available compared to last year. It is sadly reflective of the impact we have seen from increased costs over the past nine months – less employment, less opportunity and less growth in the economy.

He called on the government to act to save jobs by introducing measures to reverse the damage done by last year’s budget, including fixing NICs, lowering business rates and cutting VAT for hospitality businesses.

Neil Carberry, REC chief executive, added: “Hospitality is one of the UK’s biggest entry points into work, but right now, we are shutting people out before they even get a foot in the door.

“A drop of over 22,000 job postings as we reach the height of the summer season is not just a staffing gap, it is a red flag for the wider economy. It puts recruiters, hospitality businesses and customers under massive pressure to make the most of the short-lived English summer.

“We cannot keep loading new costs onto employers if we want vibrant high streets, thriving pubs and strong local economies. The government needs to deliver an Autumn Budget that supports hiring, which means no tax timebombs, a rethink on business rates and recognising hospitality as a vital engine for national growth.”

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