By Denis Sheehan FIH: Who would have thought… ChatGPT 4 offers hospitality a people and skills shortage solution.
Our industry over the past twenty years has constantly been held back by people and skills crises, with vacancies over that period maintaining an average of circa 2.21%. There have been peaks and troughs, most profoundly through the Covid period. Since July 2021 when the last lockdown ended vacancies have remained stubbornly high. The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics being 109,000 or circa 3.89%.
Why, is the constant question, and needs to be continued to be asked frequently, but rather than repeat the question answers need to be found.
Wider ONS data helps shine some light on two other key viewpoints, all services sector vacancies, and all UK vacancies.
If you look at all three datasets together – Accommodation and Foodservice – All Services – All UK – the pattern over the same time period is remarkably similar. All three fluctuate at the same times in similar ways.
So, rather than ask a group of people across the industry for their views, which is done frequently, I asked ChatGPT 4 what conclusions could be drawn from this correlation…
ChatGPT 4: “Interdependence of Sectors: The hospitality and catering services sector is a significant component of the overall services sector, and its performance in terms of job vacancies is indicative of the broader health of the services industry. This interdependence suggests that factors affecting the hospitality sector also have widespread implications for the entire services sector.
“Economic Trends and Consumer Behaviour: The correlation might reflect broader economic trends and consumer behaviour that affect job vacancies across sectors. For instance, periods of economic growth typically see an increase in consumer spending, including on services such as hospitality, leading to more job vacancies. Conversely, economic downturns would result in a decrease across the board.
“Flexibility and Mobility of Workforce: The similarity in trends could indicate a degree of flexibility and mobility within the workforce, where workers can move relatively easily between sectors in response to job availability. This is particularly plausible in service-oriented roles, which often require similar skill sets (customer service, communication, etc.).
“Impact of External Factors: Events that impact the overall job market or the services sector specifically (such as recessions, technological advancements, or pandemics like COVID-19) would likely affect job vacancies across all sectors but might be particularly felt in service-oriented sectors like hospitality and catering due to their direct interaction with consumer demand.
“Policy and Regulation Effects: Government policies and regulations that affect employment, such as minimum wage laws, labour laws, and immigration policies, could have uniform impacts across these sectors, contributing to the parallel trends in job vacancies.
“Sectoral Growth and Contraction Dynamics: The data might also reflect the growth and contraction dynamics of the hospitality and catering services sector within the broader services industry, indicating that as the sector expands or contracts, it does so in alignment with the broader trends in the services industry and the overall job market.
“It’s important to consider these conclusions within the broader socio-economic context, including shifts in consumer preferences, technological advancements, and global economic conditions, all of which can influence job vacancy trends across sectors.”
My next question was: What can be done to reduce the UK hospitality and catering services sector job vacancies following the wider services sector and national all jobs patterns?
The answer from ChatGPT 4 was illuminating: “To effectively reduce job vacancies in the UK hospitality and catering services sector below the levels observed in the wider services sector and national job trends, a strategic emphasis on vocational training and higher education is crucial. These educational pathways can be leveraged to enhance the skills, attractiveness, and long-term sustainability of the workforce in this sector. Here are some focused strategies integrating vocational training and higher education:
“Strengthening Vocational Training Partnerships: Forge stronger partnerships between the hospitality sector and vocational training institutions to ensure that the curriculum is closely aligned with industry needs. This could involve regular consultations between industry leaders and educators to update training programs based on evolving sector requirements. Develop work-study programs that allow students to gain practical experience in the hospitality sector while completing their vocational training, providing a seamless transition from education to employment.
“Expanding Higher Education Programs: Encourage universities and colleges to expand their hospitality and tourism programs to include a broader range of subjects such as digital marketing, sustainable tourism, and international hospitality management, making graduates more versatile and attractive to employers.
“Introduce specialised degrees or certifications that focus on emerging trends in the hospitality sector, such as culinary innovation, event technology, or wellness tourism, to attract students interested in these niche areas.
“Incentives for Educational Achievement: Offer tuition reimbursement or scholarship programs for employees who wish to pursue further education in hospitality-related fields, incentivising continuous learning and professional development.
“Create a structure for career advancement within the hospitality sector that explicitly rewards higher education and vocational training achievements, motivating employees to upskill.
“Enhanced Apprenticeship Programs: Develop advanced apprenticeship programs that combine on-the-job training with formal education, allowing participants to earn industry-recognised qualifications while gaining practical experience. This could involve collaborations between hospitality businesses, vocational schools, and higher education institutions.
“Increase government or industry funding for apprenticeships in the hospitality sector, making them more accessible to a wider range of individuals.
“Career Transition Programs: Implement programs aimed at professionals in other sectors seeking a career change, offering fast-track vocational training or condensed higher education courses that recognise their prior work experience and skills, facilitating a smoother transition into the hospitality sector.
“Promoting Lifelong Learning: Establish a culture of lifelong learning within the hospitality sector, encouraging continuous professional development through short courses, workshops, and seminars that keep pace with industry innovations and trends.
“Leverage online learning platforms to offer flexible, accessible education options for hospitality professionals looking to enhance their skills or advance their careers.
“International Study and Exchange Opportunities: Promote international study and exchange programs for hospitality students, exposing them to global best practices, diverse cultures, and innovative approaches in the hospitality sector. This can enrich the UK hospitality sector with internationally-informed perspectives and skills.
“Research and Innovation Collaborations: Encourage collaborations between the hospitality sector and academic institutions for research and innovation projects that address industry challenges, such as sustainability, customer experience enhancement, and operational efficiency. These collaborations can also provide students with real-world problems to solve, making their education more relevant and applied.
“By integrating these strategies, the UK hospitality and catering services sector can attract a well-educated, skilled, and motivated workforce, prepared to meet the sector’s current and future needs. This approach not only helps to reduce job vacancies but also elevates the sector’s profile as a career destination, offering opportunities for personal and professional growth.”
So, if I understand ChatGPT 4 correctly, what is required quite simply is a short, medium, and long term focus on education and training. Who would have thought…