We develop: Youth employment in the tourism industry
The tourism, hospitality and restaurant sectors are suffering from a shortage of labor, and the attractiveness of the sectors has clearly weakened in the eyes of job seekers. While some entrepreneurs have hit records in the number of customers, others are persevering and looking for ways to get back on their feet after the pandemic. As consumption potentially recovers, the sectors have faced major challenges in finding skillful workers.
Recruitment challenges are visible
The COVID pandemic caused a significant drop in turnover in the tourism sector, but the situation is slowly changing for the better. As the pandemic progressed, the number of employees also decreased very quickly, and it has not recovered at the same pace as the turnover has. However, there is still a fair amount of new people being trained in the industry, but some of those who have just graduated are looking for careers in other sectors. The tourism industry offers diverse opportunities, but the attractiveness is challenged by part-time work, the irregularity of shift work and the extensive use of temporary labor.
There is some variation between companies and sectors, but the direction of the trend is clear: skilled workers are needed, now the need and the workers do not meet. Some of the companies say that they even had to close the doors or not open the terrace, for example, because there is not enough workforce. Running a company's everyday life with minimal resources takes its toll on both employees and entrepreneurs, and the solution is not sustainable for the future.
Companies have already used their existing networks as widely as possible and tried to develop new ways to recruit people. However, keeping the employees committed is difficult, and the constant uncertainty and threat images of another pandemic autumn have the opposite effect.
The fast pace of changing jobs
In addition to the uncertainty of the industry and experts changing jobs, companies are challenged by the increased mobility of labor between companies. While working long hours to keep the business open, companies should be able to keep up with the ever-changing digital recruitment market and pay special attention to creating an employer image. Traditional methods of recruitment do not necessarily produce the desired result, which may leave companies without an employee altogether.
There is fierce competition for talented employees. When choosing a new workplace, the image of the employer image becomes a significant attractiveness factor. Working conditions and work well-being, job content, the opportunity to influence one's own work and management practices have become important elements alongside salary.
#Matkaan project supporting young people and companies
The development of future experts starts with studies, but to support studies, young people need working life practices and competence, which can only be obtained by doing work in the field. The goal of the #Matkaan project is to support those young people who have not yet found their own stable place and to work closely with companies to facilitate the recruitment of labor.
Even though the digital age is here to stay, in addition to innovating virtual recruitment, the project also engages companies, provides personal support to job seekers, and aims for strong, concrete interaction with different actors.
Did you know?
- Tourism industries in 2020:
- 55 million (22%) fewer working hours than before the pandemic.
- Employees in the sector 25,400 (16%) less than the previous year.
Source (in Finnish): https://tem.fi/matkailu-lukuina
- The most significant obstacles to the growth of services are currently the availability of skilled labor (40.1%) and insufficient demand (23.3%)
Source (in Finnish): https://ek.fi/tavoitteemme/talouspoliitiikka/suhdannetiedustelut/suhdannebarometri-heinakuu-2022/