Staffing crisis leaves 1 in 9 hospitality jobs vacant

The staff turnover rate was at 8.3%.

One in nine hospitality jobs remains vacant despite recent improvements in recruitment, new surveys from CGA by NielsenIQ and Fourth reveal.

The October Business Confidence Survey, which goes out to leaders of multi-site businesses, shows 11% of roles are vacant—a figure that is level with the last survey three months ago, but down from a peak vacancy rate of 15% at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The recovery in recruitment since the end of COVID-19 restrictions means the sector has increased its headcount by 8.8% in the 12 months to September, according to Fourth’s latest Hospitality Workforce Report. It suggests that efforts to attract more people to work in pubs, bars and restaurants, including through the Hospitality Rising campaign, are starting to pay off.

The data from Fourth’s Hospitality Workforce Report, which analyses more than 700 companies across the UK restaurant, pub, bar, QSR and hotel sectors, shows a staff turnover rate of 8.3% in September—equivalent to one in 12 workers vacating their post. This is the highest figure since March 2020, when the start of the COVID-19 pandemic led many overseas workers to return home.

Staff shortages have forced many hospitality operators to raise pay levels to attract new workers. The Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth indicates that average pay has risen by 9% in the last 12 months.

The shortages are a risk to guest experiences and sales in the run-up to Christmas, with some venues likely to be forced to cut opening hours because of a lack of frontline team members. They are further increasing uncertainty about the future of the sector, and the Business Confidence Survey indicates that just 8% of leaders feel confident about the next 12 months for the eating and drinking out market.