Staff crisis holds back irish tourist boom

Finding staff is now a major headache for Ireland's tourism industry, a new employment survey by the republic's training agency CERT shows.

The industry is booming, but hoteliers and guesthouse owners are desperately seeking staff to fill thousands of vacancies.

According to the study, 39% of establishments in the tourism industry report recruitment difficulties. The hotel sector has the greatest difficulties, with 69% having problems finding staff.

The rate of staff turnover is estimated to be 6% across the industry for permanent full-time positions, although among restaurant staff it rises to 8%.

Over the past four years, numbers employed in the trade have increased by 20% to just over 188,000. The number employed in hotels and guesthouses was up by 25%; in restaurants by 31%; in fast food outlets by 102%; and in travel services and attractions by 24%.

Over the same period, new hospitality businesses to open included 356 restaurants, 434 fast food restaurants and 175 hotels and guesthouses.