Should You Consider a Job in Hospitality?

Lots of opportunities are opening up for hospitality staff across Australia and New Zealand.

This is because hospitality venues are having trouble finding suitably skilled staff to service growing visitor needs. According to the ABC, Australia’s hospitality industry is facing a skills shortage of 75,000 people over the next five years. The New Zealand Government says major tourism growth is boosting the hospitality sector. Overseas visitor numbers topped 3.7 million in the year ending January 2018. With employers desperate to find good hospitality workers, your career options really open up. Here’s a round-up of some news about hospitality demand.  

TAFE INCENTIVES FOR FOOD APPRENTICES IN NSW

The NSW Government has just scrapped TAFE fees for 100,000 apprentices, including those enrolled in cookery courses. It is expected to save students around $2,000 per course. The government allocated $285 million in its state budget to help tackle the state’s chronic shortage of skilled trade workers.  

EVEN AWARD-WINNERS STRUGGLE TO FIND STAFF IN VICTORIA

The award-winning Lake House Daylesford is struggling to find quality staff and overcome hospitality challenges, says owner and culinary director Alla Wolf-Tasker. Difficulty finding staff who have worked for Michelin or five- and six-star restaurants reflects the growing crisis in hospitality, she says.  

STUDENTS PRIMED TO FILL SKILLS SHORTAGE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The Secondary Schools Culinary Challenge in South Australia is preparing youngsters for an exciting and fulfilling career, in the hospitality industry. TAFE SA Hospitality and Cookery educational manager Belinda McPherson says the skills shortage is deepening as more cafés, venues and aged care establishments open across the state.  

HOSPITALITY GROWTH FORECAST FOR NEW ZEALAND

Demand for skilled hospitality workers in New Zealand is only expected to increase according to government figures. Tourism spending is expected to reach 15.3 billion in 2023 with visitor numbers rising by 39%. This will see 4.9 million visitors a year. Chefs currently top the list of in-demand hospitality workers needed to service visitor needs. National Skills Week in 2017 showed a thriving hospitality and tourism sector boosting demand for qualified staff. Training in hospitality is therefore important.  

DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

According to Australian Employment Department figures, the five hospitality jobs in highest demand up to 2020 are:

• Waiter: around 19,000 more needed. Average weekly pay is listed as $804 with most staff having a Certificate II or III.
• Chef:19,000 required with strong future growth forecast. Average full-time weekly pay is listed as $1,050 with most staff having an apprenticeship.
• Bar attendant/barista: around 11,700 needed to meet industry demand. Average full-time pay is listed as $873 weekly with Certificate I or II recommended.
• Café/restaurant manager:15,700 more urgently needed. Average full-time pay is listed as $900 with one in four staff having a certificate or diploma.
• Conference/event organiser:about 2,200 more needed, a 9.5% increase. Average full-time earnings are listed as $1,313 for a 37.6 hour working week.

Do you think that hospitality is the industry for you? Consider consulting a specialist hiring agency if you need help with hospitality recruitment.