Skills and Labour Shortages – A Roadmap for Action

The European hospitality sector remains one of the EU’s largest employers, providing jobs to 10 million people across 2 million businesses, the vast majority of which are SMEs and micro-enterprises. Despite a gradual easing of post-pandemic recruitment pressures, skills and labour shortages continue to pose a structural challenge for the sector.

In a new position paper, “Skills and Labour Shortages in Hospitality – A Roadmap for Action”, HOTREC highlights an uneven situation across Member States. While some countries have seen improvements, others continue to face acute shortages, particularly during peak tourism seasons. On average, the sector is still missing around 10% of its workforce.

Beyond recruitment difficulties, the sector is also experiencing growing skills gaps, driven by the green and digital transitions. Hospitality businesses increasingly require digital competences, sustainability-related skills, and strong interpersonal abilities, alongside traditional operational expertise.

HOTREC stresses that these challenges are part of a broader EU labour market context marked by population ageing, labour market slack, and a fragile economic recovery. Without targeted action, shortages risk re-emerging quickly as demand grows.

To address these challenges, HOTREC sets out a comprehensive roadmap structured around four pillars:

• Education and training, with a strong focus on upskilling, reskilling, apprenticeships, and modernised curricula that integrate green and digital skills.
• Labour market measures to improve the image and attractiveness of hospitality careers and support workforce retention through diverse forms of work.
• Labour mobility, including stronger EU tools such as EURES, better access to affordable housing, and effective legal migration pathways through the EU Talent Pool, Talent Partnerships, and faster Single Permit procedures.
• Funding, ensuring sustained EU and national financial support for training and mobility initiatives, which are essential for SMEs.

With coordinated action from EU institutions, Member States, and social partners, the hospitality sector can strengthen its workforce, support Europe’s competitiveness, and continue to deliver quality jobs across the continent.

Alexandros Vassilikos, President of HOTREC, stated: “Hospitality is one of Europe’s largest employers. Yet businesses across the EU continue to face serious skills and labour shortages. This paper shows that with the right investment in skills and people, our sector can provide accessible entry-level jobs for diverse social groups while also offering sustainable and quality long-term careers. In doing so, hospitality will continue to act as a key driver of the European economy, especially in remote geographical areas.”

Sami Nisametdin, Chair of the Sectoral Social Dialogue for HOTREC, commented: “Addressing skills and labour shortages requires practical and balanced solutions at both EU and national level, developed in close cooperation with social partners, vocational education and training providers, and public authorities. Through collective efforts, we can deliver tangible results for hospitality businesses and workers alike.”

Read the Full Position Paper: Skills and Labour Shortages in Hospitality – A Roadmap for Action