The hospitality industry is looking at ways to deal with growing demand for workers in a tight labour market.
Hospitality Standards Institute chief executive Steve Hanrahan said the industry was dealing with training issues resulting from greater use of non-skilled and migrant labour, the work ethics of GenerationY -- born between 1978 and 1994 -- and poor basic literacy.
He made the comments today as the institute published two reports on the growth of the industry and future skill and training needs.
Almost 40 per cent of hospitality industry employees were aged under 25, and many employers were changing management styles to successfully recruit, train and keep young staff, Mr Hanrahan said.
That included offering flexible roster options to help support work/life balance issues and providing remuneration packages that included training and development.
The reports out today put hospitality industry staff growth at 20 per cent between 2001 and 2006, taking employment in the industry to more than 135,000, compared to 14 per cent for the economy as a whole.
The number of hospitality businesses grew by 27 per cent, with more than 4000 new businesses.
Future labour shortages were expected to result in even greater reliance on immigrant labour.
That was already beginning to show, with new institute statistics indicating one in three hospitality employees last year was born outside this country.
The institute was developing plans to ensure it had the capability to meet changing needs. Those include a strategic training plan, and an application to the Government for tertiary funding to meet increased growth in demand for training.
The past five years had seen a significant shift towards higher qualifications in the industry, with 22 per cent of hospitality employees having vocational qualifications and a further 10 per cent with degrees. Mr Hanrahan said.
"This is a positive sign that more and more people are treating hospitality as a profession and gaining qualifications to support building their careers."
Institute chairwoman Carol Stigley said another 13,500 employees were expected to be hired in the industry in the five years through to 2011.
