Rome, Italy – The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launches a landmark report, revealing that while the sector is on course to support one in three new jobs worldwide by 2035, demographic and structural shifts could create a workforce shortfall of more than 43MN people if left unaddressed.
The report, Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce, which focused on 20 economies, launched today at the global tourism body’s 25th Global Summit in Rome and developed with the support of the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Coraggio Group, Miles Partnership, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is based on extensive global research, including a large-scale survey of business leaders and in-depth interviews with WTTC Members and other key stakeholders.
It not only highlights how the sector has rebounded as a global engine for job creation, but also how structural shifts, including shrinking working-age populations relative to economic growth, will further impact the Travel & Tourism sector, which is set to grow considerably faster than the economy.
A Sector of Unmatched Opportunity
In 2024, the sector supported a record 357MN jobs worldwide and is forecast to support 371MN jobs this year. Over the next decade, Travel & Tourism is projected to generate 91MN new roles, accounting for one in every three net new jobs created globally.
By 2035, global demand for workers in Travel & Tourism will outpace supply by more than 43MN people, leaving labour availability 16% below required levels.
According to the report, the hospitality industry faces an expected gap of 8.6MN workers, around 18% below the staffing levels needed.
Low-skilled roles, which remain critical to the sector, will remain the most sought after, with a need of more than 20MN additional workers projected. Positions which rely heavily on human interaction, and services that cannot be easily automated, will remain in high demand.
The report highlights that the labour challenge will affect all the 20 major economies analysed for the report, with the largest absolute shortfalls forecast in China (16.9MN), India (11MN), and the European Union (6.4MN).
In relative terms, the Japan Travel & Tourism sector will see its workforce supply projected to sit at 29% below 2035 levels of demand, followed by Greece (-27%) and Germany (-26%).
Yet, despite these challenges, Travel & Tourism remains a powerhouse for job creation.
Building a Future-Ready Workforce
The report sets out how the sector, working with governments and educators can turn these challenges into opportunities:
- Inspire more young people by highlighting the diversity and excitement of career opportunities in Travel & Tourism
- Strengthen collaboration and alignment between educators and industry in order for training to meet employers’ needs and give students real-world experiences
- Boost retention with leadership development programmes, clear internal promotion pathways, and inclusive workplace cultures
- Invest in digital literacy, AI adoption, and sustainable practices to prepare workers for the future and to boost productivity
- Incorporate flexible policies to manage fluctuating workforce demand, including reducing barriers to recruiting from abroad and combining part-time roles into full-time jobs
Collaboration is Key
Addressing the workforce challenge will require close alignment between governments, stakeholders, and education providers. With proactive planning and investment, Travel & Tourism can continue to deliver prosperity, innovation, and opportunity for communities around the world.
The Global Summit is hosted in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, ENIT (the Italian national tourist board), the Municipality of Rome, and the Lazio Region.
Other WTTC Partners include Antonio Lefebvre d’Ovidio Di Bolsonaro Philantrophy, Arsenale Spa, Chase Travel (JPMC), Giacomo Milano, MMGY, MSC Group, Terme di Saturnia, and Trip.com Group.
Download our Future of Work in Travel & Tourism report.
- The analysis includes employment projections across 20 key economies, with country-level findings available in separate WTTC releases.
About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world’s leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to maximising the inclusive and sustainable growth potential of the Travel & Tourism sector by partnering with governments, destinations, communities, and other stakeholders to drive economic development, create jobs, reduce poverty and foster peace, security, and understanding in our world.