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Recruitment and executive search specialist TMS Asia-Pacific is predicting another lean year ahead for New Zealand hospitality and tourism sector employers looking to recruit new and qualified staff.
General manager Australia/New Zealand, Ainslie Hunt said the ongoing staffing crisis affecting the sector shows no sign of abating and demands on an already tight talent pool look set to intensify in 2008.
From the perspective of higher wages and other benefits, the hospitality and tourism sector has continued to struggle to maintain its competitiveness against other sectors within the overall employment market and the new figures don't make life any easier, she said.
Unless the hospitality and travel industry can pick up its game and become more competitive, the reality is even greater strain on a talent pool in an environment where employers were already finding it difficult to locate and retain qualified staff at all levels.
Employers would do well to place emphasis on personal development and training as part of their longer term career aspirations, she says. Those taking time to invest in more flexible staffing patterns, addressing work/life balance issues and providing value-added packages and training and development opportunities are the ones most likely to succeed.
