Staff turnover causes concern

By Nigel Packer

Almost one in four employees in the UK hotel and leisure sector changed jobs last year, according to a new survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

A turnover rate of almost 24% puts the industry way ahead of the national average, which stands at 16%, and second only to the wholesale sector, which saw a 39% turnover of employees.

"Along with the retail sector, hotel and leisure is partly a seasonal industry and also something of a low-paying one, so people are less likely to enter it with a view to staying," said Jonathan Edwards, policy advisor at the CBI.

But unlike other industries, almost as many full-timers as part-timers left their jobs in the hotel and leisure sector last year, the survey shows. And average length of service is considerably shorter in hotels and leisure than in other sectors, with 74% of full-timers and 89% of part-timers leaving after less than two years.

Martin Couchman, deputy chief executive of the British Hospitality Association (BHA), said: "There will always be a degree of inevitability about high turnover in the industry.

"Given the relatively low entry barriers in terms of specialist skills required, it will always attract people looking to fill in between other jobs, or make some money before moving on.

"On the other hand, turnover in the French and German hospitality sectors appears to be much lower, which implies that the issue needs looking at more closely.

"Pay levels and lack of prospects are reasons commonly given by employees for moving on."

The BHA will address the issue of employment prospects in its forthcoming "Excellence Through People" programme.