Shortened opening hours, days off or smaller menus: Hotels and restaurants currently have to resort to these measures. According to the industry association, more than 65,000 workers are missing.
In the middle of the holiday season, there is an acute shortage of staff in the hospitality industry: according to the DEHOGA industry association, more than 65,000 employees are currently missing in hotels and restaurants in Germany. “According to the monthly DEHOGA surveys, the lack of employees is regularly one of the biggest challenges for companies,” the association told the dpa news agency.
The Federal Employment Agency reported 33,160 vacancies for June. “However, we assume that the actual need is at least twice as high, since many companies no longer report their vacancies to the employment agencies or job centers,” said Sandra Warden from DEHOGA.
Development has been massively intensified since the Corona crisis
The labor market expert underpinned the estimate with a look at the figures from June 2019: At that time, almost 40,000 vacancies were reported. Since then, the problem has worsened immensely as a result of the corona pandemic, said Warden. “Especially now, in the holiday season and the associated increased demand in tourist destinations, demand is increasing.”
At the beginning of the year, the industry association warned of an escalation of the development in spring and summer – in restaurants and cafés, hotels, guesthouses and other companies. We are therefore looking for specialists and workers in all areas, from full-time employees to mini-jobbers. However, the competition for employees is difficult, especially for the mostly small and medium-sized companies in rural regions.
Shortened opening hours, days off or smaller menus
The catering establishments themselves are now reacting in a variety of ways to the tense situation on the labor market. “There are businesses that feel compelled to shorten their opening hours, introduce rest days or concentrate the menu offerings,” says Warden. In some restaurants it has recently been observed that more self-service is being used instead of complete service at the table.
At DEHOGA, however, there is hope that the industry can quickly benefit from the possibilities of reformed immigration and the easier employment of refugees. In addition, the association calls for an offensive for dual training and more appreciation for practical professions and activities.