Hospitality staffing remains major issue 

Nearly two fifths of ‘accommodation and food services’ businesses are facing worker shortages, according to a new study of government data by digital marketing agency Koozai.

The analysis, which looked at the latest figures from the ONS (Office of National Statistics), reveals the extent of worker shortages across different industries and areas of the UK.

The study found that 37.4 per cent of businesses in accommodation and food services are having issues with recruiting enough skilled staff – making it the industry most significantly impacted by worker shortages. 14.1 per cent of UK businesses overall are experiencing worker shortages, meaning that the skills shortages in hospitality are more significant than the UK average.

Other UK industries experiencing particularly large worker shortages include construction (25.5 per cent), transport and storage (16.2 per cent), property (14.3 per cent), administrative and support services (13.5 per cent), manufacturing (13.3 per cent), and the wholesale and retail trade (12 per cent).

There are also regional disparities in worker shortages. The areas of the UK with the highest proportion of businesses experiencing worker shortages include Cornwall (33 per cent), Lancashire (25.2 per cent), Dorset and Somerset (22.8 per cent), East Wales (22 per cent) and Shropshire and Staffordshire (21.9 per cent).

Koozai managing director Sophie Roberts says: “Our study suggests hospitality businesses may be experiencing particular difficulties in recruiting enough staff with the right skills right now, just as predictions of recession and increased energy costs loom large over the national economy.”