Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015
341. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the expert group on future skills needs will complete its detailed assessment of the workforce skills and competency requirements for the Irish hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28536/15]
View answerIt is anticipated that the research by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) on Assessment of Future Skills Requirements in the Hospitality Sector in Ireland, 2014-2020 will be completed in September 2015.
The Hospitality sector requires a skilled and professional workforce in order to deliver the highest standards of service. Approximately 160,000 people are employed in this sector – representing 7% of total employment.
The focus of the EGFSN study is on assessing the skills demand needs arising within the Hospitality sector in Ireland – in accommodation and food services in hotels, restaurants and bars, canteens and catering.
The study will assess skills demand at successive NFQ levels, with a particular focus on career progression opportunities for those at lower skilled levels to help fill anticipated job openings.
The Study will assess the demand (both expansion and replacement) for relevant occupations arising both within the Hospitality sector and across other sectors of the economy. It will include an assessment of the scale and nature of seasonal/contract nature work in the sector; available wage/salary levels information particularly for lower level skills; and the level of job turnover in the sector and reason(s) for this.
The aim is to ensure that there will be the right supply of skills – quantity, quality and diversity, to help drive domestic Hospitality sector business and employment growth, including through (a) the further education and higher education provision; (b) upskilling/reskilling (c) continuing professional development; and (d) talent recruitment and retention practices.
