Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The latest research by Fáilte Ireland shows that while recruitment is still a significant challenge for tourism businesses, the situation is improving and employers are making positive strides. The number of vacancies across the industry has fallen, from 40,000 at the start of 2022 to 22,000 today. Overall, positions have become less difficult to fill while staff retention has become less difficult too. For employees, hourly rates of pay have improved, compensation for working unsocial hours has become more common and job security among workers has grown.

My Department participates in the tourism and hospitality careers oversight group which brings together industry representatives, State agencies, Departments and the education sector. My Department and Fáilte Ireland are also working with industry and across government to ensure a co-ordinated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages.

For example, in 2022, my Department and Fáilte Ireland worked closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to ensure processing times for work permits were significantly reduced. My Department and Fáilte Ireland have also worked with that Department to increase work permit application success rates by providing information sessions to the industry. In 2023 and the years ahead, my Department and Fáilte Ireland will continue to work with industry and recruitment experts to share best practice guidance on retention and building capability.

With regard to working conditions in the sector, Fáilte Ireland's research indicates that 70% of people within the sector see tourism as a long-term career option. Around 70% of businesses surveyed indicated they are increasing their pay and offering flexible work patterns, more stable work schedules and other benefits. Fáilte Ireland has also launched a new employer excellence programme to help participating businesses to improve their employer practices and enhance their reputation as excellent employers. This will help employers to drive great employee engagement, build the appeal of their workplace and unlock greater levels of performance across their businesses. Further initiatives undertaken include a transition year work placement programme to give transition year students a high-quality work placement and a major recruitment awareness campaign called "works for me" to encourage people of all ages to consider a career in the industry. When we look at the wider economy and the particular set of challenges facing the industry, it is clear that a collective and concerted multi-stakeholder approach to tackling these challenges is required, and that is the approach my Department and I will continue to pursue.

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