30,000+ hospitality workers needed now

It comes as no surprise to the hospitality sector that New Zealand’s restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels are in critical need of a 30,000-strong army of new recruits this summer and immigration hurdles have hampered the process.

Venues up and down the country face the prospect of further closing their doors for up to three days a week and offering limited menus to diners, who may have to wait up to 25 percent longer for their meals to be served.

With the hospitality industry in desperate need of employees in an environment with record low employment, the Restaurant Association of New Zealand has welcomed updates to immigration settings announced this week which should see chefs and cooks having one less hurdle to jump when qualifying for a visa. 

Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois says to date, staff shortages are hampering the reopening of the hospitality industry; the relaxation of the Level 4 Qualification requirement for chefs and cooks is expected to alleviate some of the stress in getting an approved visa for chefs. 

“Level 4 really made the approval process more difficult for members who desperately need help in their kitchens. This process meant that we were turning away highly skilled chefs, in some cases who did not have a formal qualification but had several years of practical experience. In some cases, people who have worked for extremely well-known establishments,” she notes.

While the association has placed additional focus on the training and development of New Zealanders, with only 3.2 per cent unemployment, Bidois says it is essential that we can access the talent we need to run our businesses, and in many cases help grow the industry as a whole. 

Recent data from the Restaurant Association’s regular polling of its 2500+ members showed the pace of recovery, with 79 per cent of the industry saying revenue is the same or higher against the same time last year.

Average revenue growth of 60 per cent is significant, but it could be greater – as 62 per cent of members temporarily closed in August because of ongoing staffing challenges.

“We have appreciated the opportunity to work with the Minister and officials around these important points but look forward to further conversations to ensure there is support for the sector as we work through the recovery period and welcome visitors back to NZ.” 

Bidois says the Restaurant Association will continue lobbying for its members’ interests. “Lowering Level 4 is a step in the right direction, and we welcome this action from the Government. There is more that can be done, though, and we look forward to working with Government to achieve a short-term and long-term strategy that will support the hospitality industry.”

30,000 new workers required says Barcats

In what is shaping as the biggest season for socialising since the Millennium, the 2022-23 summer marks the first time in three years most New Zealanders will be out of hibernation and ready to party.

“The hospitality industry in New Zealand is worth $10.7 billion, and right now, it is time to call in the reinforcements because if we are any chance of seeing hospitality soar this summer, we need support,” Barcats New Zealand CEO Jeff Williams said.

“We need 30,000 new workers, which is almost double the size of the entire New Zealand Defence Force[1].

“We need staff now with blockbuster events like the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Auckland, the Wanaka Beer Festival, the Wine & Food Festival in Christchurch, the Rhythm & Alps Festival in the South Island, concerts from international artists such as Snoop Dog, George Ezra, Guns ‘n Roses and the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and Ironman New Zealand in Taupo.

“It has been a long and challenging few years for this sector and we are desperate to see pubs and clubs, bars and restaurants, cafes and hotels thriving again.

Across New Zealand the top five hospitality jobs that need filling are bar and wait staff, kitchen staff, management roles, baristas, and hotel staff.

“We want this to be a blockbuster summer, and this is an industry that hires across a variety of ages – from university students, to retirees, and year 12 graduates across the country, we need you to sign up and be part of this hospitality army,” Mr Williams said.

Table 1: Estimated jobs available, job descriptions & training

Table 2: Predicted top three-party hotspots, Auckland.

[1] Service with the NZDF: Our people – New Zealand Defence Force (nzdf.mil.nz)