Data from S4labour, shows a reduction in the size of the hospitality workforce of 29% since February 2020 (pre-pandemic).
Coupled with the reduction in the workforce we can report that 26% of employees remain on furlough.
The challenge that these figures represent is further amplified when we consider that since the recent lifting of restriction sales have been up 34% against 2019 figures.
Richard Hartley, Chief Innovation Office for S4labour commented “It is great to see so many hospitality businesses thriving after such a terrible last year, but the lack of available staff is putting a huge pressure on businesses. With Furlough due to continue until the end of September and with restrictions on traveling to the UK to work this isn’t a problem that is going to go away quickly”