A new report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) predicts the sector will support 91 million new jobs worldwide by 2035, accounting for one in three net new roles globally.
However, demographic and structural shifts could create a shortfall of more than 43 million workers if action is not taken.
The report, The Future of Work in Travel & Tourism: The key trends shaping workforce strategies, was launched at WTTC’s 25th Global Summit in Rome and focuses on 20 economies. It was developed with support from the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Coraggio Group, Miles Partnership, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, based on global research including surveys of business leaders and interviews with WTTC members and other stakeholders.
The sector supported a record 357 million jobs in 2024 and is forecast to reach 371 million this year. Over the next decade, it is projected to generate 91 million new roles, but by 2035 demand for workers is expected to outpace supply by 43 million, leaving labour availability 16 per cent below required levels.
Hospitality is expected to face a shortfall of 8.6 million workers, around 18 per cent below needed staffing levels. Low-skilled roles will remain in high demand, particularly positions that rely on human interaction and cannot easily be automated.
The labour challenge is expected across all 20 economies studied, with the largest shortfalls projected in China (16.9 million), India (11 million), and the EU (6.4 million). In relative terms, Japan’s travel and tourism workforce is projected to fall 29 per cent below demand by 2035, followed by Greece (27 per cent) and Germany (26 per cent).
The report outlines strategies to address the workforce gap, including promoting career opportunities to young people, aligning training with industry needs, improving retention through leadership development and inclusive workplaces, investing in digital literacy and sustainable practices, and implementing flexible policies to manage workforce demand.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC interim CEO, said: “Travel and tourism is set to remain one of the world’s biggest job creators, offering opportunities for millions of people worldwide – but we must also recognise that wider demographic and structural changes are reshaping labour markets everywhere.
“Many workers left the sector during Covid when travel and tourism came to a standstill. Now, as global unemployment is expected to fall and working age populations to shrink, this is creating an increased pressure on labour supply, especially for fast growing sectors like travel and tourism.”
She described the report as a call to action, saying that collaboration with governments and educators will help the sector address workforce challenges and continue to offer opportunities for future generations, with WTTC supporting policy implementation worldwide to close the gap.
The report can be viewed here.
