Job market information
Finding out about hotels
The hotels industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The hospitality, travel and tourism sector incorporates the following industries: contract food service providers, events, gambling, holiday parks, hospitality services, hostels, hotels, membership clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, and visitor attractions. The sector accounts for a workforce of 2.1 million, most of which are based within the restaurants, hospitality services, and pubs, bars and nightclubs industries. The roles within the sector are extremely diverse and include managers, technical staff, front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, and non-core staff.
The hotels industry covers paid accommodation that is open to the general public, which can include budget hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation, plus hotels rated from one to 5 star. As an accommodation provider, hotels overlap with other industries, such as youth hostels, farms, pubs, and restaurants and others that may also provide accommodation.
Key facts:
- There are 253,900 people working in the hotels industry.
- 17% of the workforce has an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification.
- The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 2 qualification (25%).
- 13% of the workforce has no qualifications.
- 64% of the workforce is employed full‐time.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Jobs in the industry range from: bar manager, events co‐ordinator, general manager, exhibitions co‐ordinator, head housekeeper, chef, cleaner, conference and banqueting manager, front of house staff, porter, receptionist, waiter/waitress, linen room assistant.
Entry and progression
For most entry level jobs, there are no specific academic requirements, but a willingness to work hard, a good attitude, good communication and team working skills can be an advantage. For public facing roles, employers may prefer candidates who have previous experience of working in a customer service environment and show good people skills, as well as an appreciation of the importance of customer service. There are a number of areas from which people could transfer in, particularly from retail and call centres.
There are opportunities for progression in the industry for those willing to take on more responsibility. Previous managerial experience can be an advantage. It is fairly common for people to move between certain areas of work in the industry. There is a range of industry endorsed courses, apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, and training schemes available.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
253,900 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
12,600 |
|---|
| Gender: |
42% male |
58% female |
|---|
| Ethnicity: |
90% of the workforce is white and 10% is from black and ethnic minority groups |
|---|
| Age: |
13% of the workforce is aged 16‐19 years |
|---|
| 31% is 20‐29 years |
| 18% is 30‐39 years |
| 17% is 40‐49 years |
| 21% is 50 years and older |
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Employment trends and future prospects
[N.B. Data presented are for the whole hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector.]
The following table shows the numbers working across the whole hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector and forecasted numbers for 2017. There will also be high demand for new workers to replace those people who have either changed jobs or left the industry altogether.
| 2007 |
2012 |
2017 |
2008‐2017 |
|---|
Managers and senior officials
including: hotel and accommodation managers, restaurant and catering managers, publicans and managers of licensed premises |
590,900 |
617,900 |
659,500 |
+12% |
Skilled trades
including: chefs/cooks |
213,700 |
209,300 |
193,800 |
‐9% |
Elementary
including: kitchen and catering assistants, waiting staff, bar staff |
768,900 |
821,800 |
853,600 |
+11% |
[N.B. Data from Warwick Institute for Employment Research, Working Futures, 2007‐2017.]
Skill requirements and shortages
[N.B. Data presented are for the whole hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector.]
The five most common skill requirements are: technical, practical or job‐specific skills; customer handling skills; team working skills; oral communication skills; and problem solving skills.
Occupational trends
[N.B. Data presented are for the whole hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector.]
There are a number of ‘core’ occupations commonly found in hospitality, leisure, and travel and tourism sector. The following table lists the numbers working in these occupations across the whole sector.
| Hotel and accommodation managers |
57,700 |
|---|
| Conference and exhibition managers |
23,700 |
|---|
| Restaurant and catering managers |
148,200 |
|---|
| Publicans and managers of licensed premises |
46,900 |
|---|
| Chefs and cooks |
255,100 |
|---|
| Kitchen and catering assistants |
394,600 |
|---|
| Waiting staff |
222,200 |
|---|
| Bar staff |
197,800 |
|---|
| Leisure and theme park attendants |
21,100 |
|---|
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are approximately 15,400 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:
- 62% work full‐time
- 72% of the workforce is female
- 94% of the workforce is white
- 19% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
- 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
East of England – There are approximately 20,200 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:
- 67% work full‐time
- 65% of the workforce is female
- 92% of the workforce is white
- 16% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 34% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
London – There are approximately 32,000 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:
- 74% work full‐time
- 55% of the workforce is female
- 61% of the workforce is white
- 23% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
- 26% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 and entry level qualification
North East – There are approximately 7,800 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:
- 43% work full‐time
- 70% of the workforce is female
- 91% of the workforce is white
- Equal proportions of the workforce are aged 16‐19 years (18%) and 50‐54 years (18%)
- 41% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 and entry level qualification
North West – There are approximately 33,300 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:
- 54% work full‐time
- 55% of the workforce is female
- 88% of the workforce is white
- 22% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 30% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
South East – There are approximately 37,500 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:
- 69% work full‐time
- 65% of the workforce is female
- 94% of the workforce is white
- 17% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
- 26% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
South West – There are approximately 30,300 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:
- 65% work full‐time
- Workforce is evenly split between men and women
- 93% of the workforce is white
- Equal proportions of the workforce are aged 20‐24 years (17%) and 25‐29 years (17%)
- 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
West Midlands – There are approximately 14,700 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:
- 74% work full‐time
- 64% of the workforce is female
- 93% of the workforce is white
- 17% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
- 29% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 11,300 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:
- 49% work full‐time
- Workforce is evenly split between men and women
- 98% of the workforce is white
- 34% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
- 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
Northern Ireland – There are approximately 43,900 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Northern Ireland, of which 5,500 work in the hotels industry in 200 establishments. Details as follows:
- 55% work full‐time
- 62% of the workforce is female
- 93% of the workforce is white
- 24% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 29% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 qualification
Scotland – There are approximately 183,500 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Scotland, of which 35,700 work in the hotels industry in 2,200 establishments. Details as follows:
- 60% work full‐time
- 59% of the workforce is female
- 97% of the workforce is white
- 17% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
- 30% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 qualification
Wales – There are approximately 86,100 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Wales, of which 10,200 work in the hotels industry in 900 establishments. Details as follows:
- 63% work full‐time
- 60% of the workforce is female
- 100% of the workforce is white
- 21% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
- 29% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Salary levels
Pay scales in this industry are variable, so the following only provides an indication of the average annual pay of the current workforce:
- Bar Person £11,000 ‐ £20,000, Assistant Bar Manager £16,000 ‐ £21,000, Bar Manager £20,000 ‐ £35,000
- Assistant Exhibitions Co‐ordinator £14,000 ‐ £17,000, Exhibitions Co‐ordinator £21,000 ‐ £35,000, Exhibitions Manager £30,000 or more
- Assistant General Manager/Deputy Manager £21,000 ‐ £35,000
- Assistant Head Housekeeper £16,000 ‐ £25,000
- Junior/Commis Chef £10,000 ‐ £16,000, Chef £15,000 ‐ £20,000, Head Chef £20,000 ‐ £45,000
- Cleaner/Caretaker £11,000 ‐ £14,000
- Conference & Banqueting Manager £22,000 ‐ £35,000
- Events Manager £36,000 or more
- Housekeeping Supervisor £13,000 ‐ £17,000, Head Housekeeper £16,000 ‐ £27,000
- Porter £11,000 ‐ £15,000, Head Porter £13,000 ‐ £17,000
- Receptionist £12,000 ‐ £18,000, Head Receptionist £20,000 ‐ £24,000
- Junior Waiter £11,000 ‐ £14,000, Waiter £12,000 ‐ £16,000, Head Waiter £14,000 ‐ £25,000
- Linen Room Assistant £11,000 or more
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using People 1st AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
