Chef and driver roles are the hardest to fill in the tourism industry, according to a new report from Fáilte Ireland, prompting calls for employers to enhance staff rewards as working conditions are perceived to have stagnated despite earlier improvements.
The report surveyed workers in the industry who told them compensation for unsocial hours has not progressed this year, negatively affecting their outlook on the industry, which remains competitive in a tight labour market.
While recruitment and retention challenges are easing, chefs and drivers continue to be the most difficult positions to fill, with nearly a quarter of businesses struggling to retain chefs.
The report emphasises the need for employers to address non-pay issues, such as flexible working and career progression opportunities, to bridge the gap between tourism sector pay and competitor industries.
It says understaffing is less of a risk than immediately post pandemic, with 14pc of businesses claiming they may to close in 2024 compared with 30pc in 2021.
The report states: “There remains a significant divide between what employers say they are doing and what workers perceive to be the case. Despite the impact of rising costs, in a tight labour market there is no scope for ‘easing up’ on the progress made to date.”
Jenny De Saulles, director of sector development at Fáilte Ireland, shared. “we have to remember it is a full employment market and incredibly competitive out there. It’s not just what’s happening in tourism, it’s everywhere else. It’s an employees’ market. What we’re saying to industry is, they can’t stand still.”
