JOB VACANCIES: Around 125,000 recruits will be needed in the tourism and hospitality industry over the next five years, a new report shows.
The analysis of the employment and training needs of the sector by tourism and training agency Cert found 25,000 recruits would be needed across a wide range of disciplines.
An additional 100,000 vacancies would arise as a direct consequence of continuing labour turnover within individual businesses over the period 2002-07.
Most growth was likely to be confined to the latter half of the period, mirroring employment prospects within the overall economy, Cert said. The number of recruits required by each sector should peak in 2006, when hotels and restaurants alone will require more than 11,000 new employees. While relatively high rates of labour turnover were a feature of the tourism and hospitality industry worldwide, the Irish rates "provided some food for thought", said Cert chairman Mr Eamonn McKeon.
To retain staff, the industry is starting to improve its human resource management, particularly in areas such as pay, flexible working and career development.
However, Mr McKeon said there remained room for improvement. "We would actively encourage all employers to seriously consider the tangible benefits which can accrue on foot of implementing best practice initiatives," he said.
Cert also said that given the number of new entrants forecast in the report, it was vital that optimum levels of skills within the industry be maintained. It said it would continue to support the industry by providing on and off-site training and education in a variety of disciplines.
