The average weekly earnings for someone in the industry was £308 in April 2015, according to the provisional figures in the latest Labour Market Statistics released by the Office for National Statistics, but despite a larger percentage increase than the whole economy, the figure is markedly lower in sterling, with the average for the whole economy at £462.
The hospitality industry makes up part of the wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants section in the ONS figures, which makes up 23% of the whole economy.
The earnings exclude bonuses, average weekly total pay, including bonuses, has increased by 3.2% in April 2015 year-on-year to £331 for the industry and increased 2.6% to £493 for the whole economy.
However, caterers working in the public sector are not entirely reflected in the above average earnings. The average weekly earnings for a worker in the public sector has increased 1.2% year on year to £493.
The number of jobs in the industry has also increased by 4.9% year on year, creating 104,000 new jobs. In March 2015 there were 2.25 million people employed in the ‘accommodation and foodservice activities’ sector, which includes pubs, bars, restaurants, contract caterers and hotels.
Between March and May 2015, there were 78,000 vacancies in the accommodation and foodservice activities sector, up 14.1% year on year.
Overall, there has been a 1.4% year on year increase in the number of jobs in the UK, with 424,000 extra people in work compared to a year ago. Unemployment has also fallen nearly 350,000 over the same period and is at its lowest level since August 2008.
The public sector, which makes up 19% of the whole economy employment, saw a 1.1% decline year on year in the number of employees. In March 2015, 5.37 million people worked in the public sector, down from 5.43 million in the previous March.
In the private sector, which makes up 81% of the whole economy employment, employee numbers rose 1.9% year on year to see 25.68 million people employed in March 2015, up from 25.2 million in the previous March.
Priti Patel, employment minister, said: “The figures confirm that our long-term economic plan is already starting to deliver a better, more prosperous future for the whole of the country, with wages rising, more people finding jobs and more women in work than ever before.
“As the government for working people, we want to go further and create one nation that is based on security and opportunity. We will continue to help businesses create jobs and support those who want to work hard and get on as part of our ambition to achieve full employment.”