Vacancies within the hospitality sector are once again showing an upward trend, marking a reversal after a consistent decline spanning five months.

New statistics by the Office for National Statistics unveil that job openings in hospitality and food services have surged to 121,000 during the three-month period ending in September. This figure represents an increase from the 119,000 vacancies observed at the close of August.

Collectively, the current job opportunities exceed pre-pandemic levels by more than 30,000 positions.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, commented:

“Staff shortages remain a significant challenge for hospitality businesses, causing many to operate far below full capacity.

This surprise increase in vacancies demonstrates the fluctuations that remain in the labour market and the need for action to help businesses get people into work.”

UKHospitality has presented a set of recommendations to the government, which it asserts could alleviate job openings within the industry.

These proposals encompass reforming the apprenticeship levy to permit the allocation of 25% of funds for non-apprenticeship training and adopting a modular approach to its implementation.

Additionally, they suggest initiating Youth Mobility Scheme agreements with several European nations. Furthermore, there is a call for the Government to pledge an expansion of skill development pilot initiatives currently in progress in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions.

Nicholls added:

“As the third largest employer in the UK, implementing these measures will unlock thousands of job opportunities.

Not only is hospitality well placed to kickstart someone’s career, but it can help businesses resolve a key issue, as well as keeping venues at the heart of their communities thriving.”