The global Travel & Tourism sector, while showing strong signs of economic recovery, still faces significant social challenges, particularly regarding employment for women and young people. A newly released Travel Jobs Report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, sheds light on the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on these demographics and calls for urgent action to ensure a more inclusive and equitable future for the industry.
This comprehensive travel jobs report, titled ‘Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment,’ analyzes employment trends across 185 economies from 2019 to 2022. It reveals that while almost 70 million jobs were lost in Travel & Tourism during the pandemic, women and youth bore the brunt of these losses. This is largely because they were more likely to be employed in sectors most severely affected by lockdowns and travel restrictions, such as hospitality and food services.
Even with the sector’s rebound, the travel jobs report highlights a concerning trend: in 2022, the sector employed 42 million women and just over 16 million young people, significantly lower than the 48.4 million women and nearly 19 million young workers employed in 2019. This represents a 13% decrease in female employment and a 15% decrease in youth employment within the Travel & Tourism sector compared to pre-pandemic levels. These figures underscore that the social recovery of the sector is lagging behind its economic resurgence, particularly for these vulnerable groups.
The travel jobs report emphasizes that Travel & Tourism has the potential to be a powerful engine for inclusive economic growth. However, to fully realize this potential, concerted efforts are needed to address the existing disparities. The report makes it clear that simply recovering to pre-pandemic levels is not enough; the sector must strive for a more equitable and resilient employment landscape.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, stated, “This travel jobs report highlights the extraordinary potential of Travel & Tourism to drive inclusive growth, but it also underscores the urgent need for action. Women and young people are the backbone of our sector, yet they continue to face significant barriers. By investing in skills, promoting inclusive policies, and fostering entrepreneurship, we can unlock the full potential of these groups and ensure that our sector leads the way in creating meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities.”
Furthermore, the travel jobs report points out that women are still underrepresented in higher-paying and leadership positions within Travel & Tourism. Young workers, who constitute a larger proportion of the Travel & Tourism workforce compared to the broader economy, face unique challenges in securing stable and progressive employment.
His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia Minister of Tourism, echoed the report’s findings and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s dedication to supporting youth and female employment in the sector. “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to ensuring Travel & Tourism is a key driver of social change,” he said. “Our substantial investments in 2024, includes 375 million riyals for skills development training local tour guides… In 2022, Saudi women’s employment in tourism was the fifth fastest growing among G20 countries… Through stronger partnerships, tourism can transform into a vehicle for inclusive development, creating a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone.”
This crucial travel jobs report outlines key areas that require focused attention from governments and the Travel & Tourism industry to rectify these imbalances and maximize the sector’s role in fostering inclusive growth. These key areas include:
- Developing and implementing policies that promote skills training and gender equality within the Travel & Tourism workforce.
- Actively enhancing job opportunities specifically targeted towards women and youth within the sector.
- Investing in education and leadership programs designed to empower women and young people in Travel & Tourism careers.
- Implementing inclusive hiring practices and ensuring equal pay for equal work across all demographics.
- Supporting flexible work arrangements and accessible childcare options to facilitate greater workforce participation for women.
- Promoting entrepreneurship through targeted support for start-ups and small businesses led by women and young people in the tourism sector.
The ‘Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment’ travel jobs report serves as an urgent call to action for businesses and policymakers globally. It emphasizes the critical need to prioritize the inclusion of women and youth in the Travel & Tourism workforce, invest in their skills and future, and guarantee that the benefits of this dynamic sector are shared equitably by all.
To delve deeper into the findings and recommendations, the full travel jobs report, titled ‘Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment: The Impacts of COVID-19’, is available on the Research Hub.
