Employers across the hospitality industry say they are facing a staffing crisis, with hundreds of vacancies in Aberdeenshire, the city and elsewhere left unfilled. Susan Welsh investigates why this could be the case and why more people should consider hospitality as a career option.
Skill shortages, and a shortage of skilled local workers, is said to be affecting the hospitality industry with some employers suggesting that finding staff is akin to “finding hen’s teeth.”
As 2015 has been declared The Year of Food and Drink, the Scottish Government and other agencies have been working hard to spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s natural larger and produce to visitors, so it’s a tad embarrassing when those in the hospitality industry can’t find staff to help showcase this.
Carol Fowler, partner at Banchory Lodge, said: “With the election fast approaching and all the party manifests talk of an economic downturn, immigrations, cutting benefits and unemployment, I wonder if any of the parties have ever looked at the number of vacancies verses the number of unemployed.
“In the hospitality industry alone, there is not a hotel in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire that does not have a vacancy; whether it is for qualified or unqualified staff, you simply can’t get good people, they would rather sign on.”
Carol puts the blame for the shortage of willing local workers firmly at the feet of careers advisors and politicians and says they appear not to respect the industry as being a good career path for the younger generation.
“I feel people are told from school age it’s not an industry they should be considering, but there’s every kind of job from a plumber to waiter, housekeeper and manager to be had. With good personal skills and a bit of savvy, even those without qualifications can go a long way and climb the ladder quickly.
“Perhaps it is time in this country we started to respect the industry and encourage the younger generation into a career that is rewarding, fun and offers a trade that is transferable worldwide, because at the moment that’s not the case.
“It is really hard to find local staff and as a result a lot of our staff have come from the continent where the hospitality industry is highly regarded.
“Years ago, this industry had a reputation for low pay and long hours, but that’s no longer the case. Wages, of course, depend on the size of the property, but it’s not unusual in a bigger hotel for a housekeeper to be on £30,000 a year and head chefs on £60,000 a year.”
And yet hundreds of vacancies lie unfilled – one catering agency is advertising vacancies for nearly 300 positions in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire alone.
Jennifer Duthie, a recruitment consultant with Search Aberdeen, said: “We recently advertised a head-chef position with a really good firm, paying a good salary, and I expected to be bombarded with enquiries but only got three responses. I’ve no idea why people aren’t attracted to work in the hospitality industry.”
However, Rose Recruitment agency in Aberdeen paints a different picture.
Recruitment consultant Audra Greig said: “Anytime we have advertised we get a terrific response, but it tends to be from international workers rather than local people.
“There are plenty jobs available in hospitality but having to work weekends and evenings does put some people off.
“Wages tend not to be high at the unskilled end, but if you work hard and move up the ladder there are good salaries and rewarding careers to be had.”