Hospitality sector employs over two million people

New figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 2,043,000 jobs in hospitality in March 2014, up from 1,925,000 at the same time the previous year.

It also reveals there were 71,000 vacancies for jobs in the industry during May-July 2014. The figures include jobs in both accommodation and food services.

The hospitality sector has delivered month-on-month wage growth every month since August 2013, while weekly earnings this year (up until June 2014) have averaged £234 for the industry.

The data also shows that 0.79 percentage points of the overall 0.83% growth in Q2 was attributable to the services sector – 95% of total growth – with hospitality boosting its Gross Value Added by 0.97%.

'Determination to invest'​

Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers strategic affairs director Kate Nicholls said: “These figures demonstrate our members’ determination to invest in their staff and provide opportunities, which has undoubtedly been helped by measures like the Employment Allowance but is fundamentally possible only because of the incredible work of entrepreneurs in the industry.

“We are an exceptional provider of opportunities for young people and, despite an economy-wide fall in pay, we have seen ten months of consistent wage growth in licensed hospitality. Our members are determined to invest in their staff and provide opportunities so long as conditions permit.”

She also used the opportunity to urge the Government to do more to support the sector.

“If the Government is prepared to make the cost of employing people cheaper, with further action on employers’ NICs and measures to drive down business rates and end the VAT disparity with supermarkets, we can do even better than these fantastic results,” she added.

“On average, each of our members’ outlets generates £209k GVA, employs 22 people and supports a local, sustainable supply chain all while paying 46% of its turnover in taxes to fund vital local services. Our industry is one that Government can’t afford not to support.”