The number of temporary job postings for work in hospitality this summer have dropped by 25% year on year, new data shows.
According to the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), there are 22,369 fewer unique job postings for the sector this year compared to the same period in 2024.
UKHospitality has warned the fall in vacancies “puts at risk the skills and development provided by hospitality as a first job”.
CEO Allen Simpson added that without government intervention, “we could well be seeing the death of the great British summer job”.
It comes despite a boom in UK tourism, with spend on day visits by tourists in England having risen by 6% in 2024 to £48.4bn, following a 15% year-on-year increase in 2023.
In April this year, the latest monthly data available, Brits took 68.6 million visits within the UK, up 10% year on year.
The fall in hiring follows changes to employer National Insurance contributions, including the lowering of the threshold as unveiled in last year’s budget which, according to UKHospitality, has resulted in a £3.4bn additional annual cost for hospitality businesses.
The trade body added that since the budget announcement, 84,000 jobs have been lost in the sector.
“This is the time when hospitality businesses would be frantically hiring staff for the busy summer months,” Simpson said. “I know from personal experience how important hospitality summer jobs are for getting young people experience of work.
“It is sadly reflective of the impact we have seen from increased costs over the past nine months – less employment, less opportunity and less growth in the economy.”
UKHospitality is now calling for “action at the budget”, as it urges the government to fix NICs, lower business rates and cut VAT for hospitality businesses.
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