Demand for experts in the restaurant sector
- News
There is a labour shortage in the restaurant sector, and demand for skilled workforce will probably continue for the foreseeable future. Employees are more and more expected to have versatile expertise in addition to the basic skills of the restaurant sector and customer-oriented thinking. For example, the demand for digital skills is growing in the restaurant sector.
According to the economic barometer published by the Confederation of Finnish Industries in January 2023, the tourism and restaurant sector is one of the sectors experiencing a labour shortage. It seems that the situation will remain unchanged in the future.
The forecast group for accommodation, food and tourism services of the Competence Forecast Forum also foresaw that there will be demand for basic competence in the restaurant sector now and in the future. Basic competence includes knowledge of things like raw materials and cooking techniques and knowing different payment methods and how to set a table.
According to the Competence Foresight Forum, customer-oriented thinking and service-mindedness are important skills in both the kitchen and the dining room. The importance of digital competence is also growing in the restaurant sector, which is why workers should have at least basic digital skills. These skills include receiving online bookings and orders and producing content for digital channels.
Customers’ needs will continue to grow more diverse. This is due to factors such as the ageing of the population, globalisation and changes in values. When restaurant personnel are able and willing to develop their competence, companies are better able to meet these needs.
The Competence Foresight Forum estimates that skill requirements will become even more versatile. This means combining competence from different sectors, such as having basic skills in both the kitchen and in cleaning services.
Would you like to read more about what it is like to work in the restaurant sector? You can find interviews with people working in the restaurant sector in Job Market Finland under Professional information. If you’re interested in these jobs, read the interviews: They can give you a good idea of the work tasks in these professions and the best and most challenging aspects of the work.