Tourism Recruitment Improves
Latest Fáilte Ireland Labour Market Research shows recruitment and retention challenges have improved significantly, with key positions such as managers and chefs now easier to secure.
Findings show that perception of tourism as a long-term career has improved, with 86% of workers saying they plan to stay in the industry. The research surveyed over 1,100 employers and workers across the tourism sector.
However Fáilte Ireland says that while the tourism and hospitality sector has made strong progress in rebuilding its workforce since the pandemic, momentum has now plateaued, and further action is needed to futureproof the industry.
Key findings from the research include:
Recruitment and Retention: "Considerable" difficulty hiring managers/supervisors dropped from 55% in 2021 to 29% in 2025. Retention of chefs has improved, with 39% of employers reporting little or no difficulty, up from 27% in 2024.
Employee Sentiment: 86% of workers now see tourism as a long-term career, up from 71% in 2021. 51% cite passion for the job as a key motivator, rising to 72% among chefs.
Pay and Conditions: 62% of workers report that pay conditions in the sector have improved in the last two years. These include both basic pay and remuneration for unsocial hours, such as bank holidays, which have notably recovered since 2024. Better basic pay remains the top factor in attracting and retaining staff.
Perception Gap: Despite the overall improvement in compensation, only 20% of workers give credit to their employers for pay rises. This contrasts with 57% of employers who report having implemented pay increases, highlighting a significant perception gap between employer actions and employee experiences.
Training and Development: Most employers want to support staff development, but 45% of small businesses cite lack of resources as a barrier.
The Irish Hotels Federation welcomed the new findings.
President Michael Magner said:
"We have made enormous strides in recent years, investing in people development, upskilling and promoting careers within our sector. This is a key priority for Irish hotels and guesthouses, as clearly reflected in today’s research findings, which we welcome."
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said:
"This research highlights the collective effort made by Government, Fáilte Ireland and industry to rebuild the tourism workforce post-Covid."
Jenny De Saulles, Director of Sector Development at Fáilte Ireland, commented:
"This research shows just how far the sector has come since 2021, when 40,000 vacancies and negative perceptions threatened tourism’s recovery. Today, we see a workforce that is stable, passionate and more optimistic about long-term careers in tourism."
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