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Social skills such as teamwork and communication are key for jobs in tourism.
Working conditions such as work-life balance and remuneration have a strong influence on the attractiveness of the industry.
Both employers and employees rate the level of qualifications positively.
The availability of suitable qualifications on the labor market remains a challenge.
Summary of this study
Although the role of staff in tourism is crucial, the industry faces the challenge of attracting new employees. The poor image of the industry is often cited as a reason for the skills shortage. This research examines the factors influencing the labor shortage by presenting the views of both employees and employers.
A total of 232 people from the tourism industry were surveyed in rural areas of northern Italy - 128 employees and 104 employers. The survey was conducted using an online questionnaire with closed questions. The Spearman correlation was used to evaluate the hypotheses.
The study shows a correlation between the shortage of skilled workers and various factors: these include professional skills, digital skills, social skills and knowledge of sustainability, as well as industry-specific characteristics and the image of the industry. It became clear that some factors are more important for employees, while others are more important for employers.
The study highlights several practical starting points for the tourism industry. These include improving working conditions, less manual work through the use of digital technologies, realistic career planning, employer marketing, identifying skills gaps and offering specialized training.
Most previous research on labor shortages in tourism has focused on either the employee or employer perspective. This study compares both perspectives and also includes the image of the industry. This provides a realistic picture of the important factors for a rural tourism region in northern Italy.
Findings from this study
Social skills such as communication skills, teamwork, conflict resolution and foreign languages are of great importance for both employees and employers in tourism. At the same time, the general conditions of the industry have a strong impact on the work situation. Aspects such as work-life balance, work intensity, fair pay, job security and social security play a central role in attracting and retaining skilled workers.
Although the overall qualification level in tourism is rated positively, there is a gap in the availability of suitable qualifications on the labor market - a challenge that many companies are currently facing.