Although the report offers positive news on job creation, the report does also reveal that the Hospitality and Leisure sector is experiencing more shortages within skilled trade roles than most other sectors (70% compared to 54% overall).
Looking closely at the type of role that H&L businesses are looking to create over the next year, there is a marked increase in jobs at senior management level, with a jump to 47% from 27% last year.
Amongst businesses looking to increase staff levels, the survey also reports a hike in those looking to recruit at a low/unskilled level, up to 100% from 66% last time with 72% (2014: 73%) expecting to increase jobs at a middle/junior management level.
Mike Saul, Head of Hospitality & Leisure at Barclays, commented: “As confidence returns to the sector, it is reassuring to see businesses looking to recruit across a range of roles. That said, access to labour is clearly a growing issue for many.
“With further Barclays research2 forecasting that by 2017, total expenditure by domestic and overseas consumers in the UK will reach over £135 billion, it is imperative that businesses have the right people in the right jobs to ensure they are well-positioned for these future growth opportunities. Encouragingly, findings from this report would tend to indicate that the sector is gearing up to meet this challenge head on in 2015.”
The survey suggests that, where businesses are hiring apprentices, they may also be starting to play a key role in helping to address skills gaps. Just over a third (34%) of H&L operators have taken on apprentices over the past year (2014: 16%) and 39% are looking to take on apprentices in 2015 (2014:31%).
When asked how confident they felt about the UK economy compared to the same time last year, almost half of H&L businesses, 47% (2014:46%) confirmed they are more confident. Just under two-fifths (39%) felt the same about the economy, which was broadly similar to the figure of 37% in last year’s survey.