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.
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.]
