Hospitality to lose 3,700 jobs

The drinks and hospitality industry across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon is set to see 3,730 fewer jobs in 2022 as the impact of pandemic continues despite predicted economic recovery.

That’s according to new analysis carried out by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, which also predicts that the industry as a whole will see 40,000 few jobs next year.

DIGI predicts 140,000 people will be employed by drinks and hospitality businesses in 2022, down from almost 180,000 in Q4 2019 – but rural areas, women, and young people are likely to be disproportionately affected by industry contraction.

Broken down for Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, DIGI estimates 1,190 fewer jobs among those aged between fifteen and 24, in a sector where 16,700 people are currently employed across all age groups.

In Q4 2019, the last quarter unaffected by the pandemic, those counties saw 7.5% of the adult population employed in drinks and hospitality jobs; in Galway alone, that figure was 6.8%.

DIGI’s estimates are based on analysis of the latest industry employment report, Structure and Performance of National and Regional Employment in the Hospitality Sector of Restaurants, Hotels and Public Houses, researched and authored by DCU economist Anthony Foley.

His report shows that the accommodation and food service sector, which includes most drinks and hospitality businesses, employed almost 180,000 people in the last quarter of 2019.

However, DIGI predicts that the likely substitution of some staycation demand with overseas sun holidays, some element of consumer reluctance, and the overall weaker national and international demand for travel and tourism—which in Ireland heavily involves drinks and hospitality businesses—means some pubs, restaurants, and hotels will not return to their pre-pandemic employment levels in 2022.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.