Russian Union of Travel Industry Notes Staffing Shortages in Tourism

The press service of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST) reported that the number of job vacancies in tourism has increased by 31% this year. The demand for travel agents, housekeepers, hostesses, and waiters has grown the most. However, this data may indicate a growing staffing shortage in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

The statement mentions that the staffing issue may be attributed to several factors. These include a mismatch between the qualifications of university graduates and market requirements, a decline in the working-age population, and non-competitive salaries. According to RST, the overall salary level in the tourism industry continues to lag behind the market average: 60,000 rubles in tourism and 65,200 rubles in the hospitality sector compared to an average of 74,900 rubles in other industries.

In the opinion of RST Vice President Alexey Musakin, solutions to this problem could include the establishment of training hotels in various regions and business-oriented programs, increasing the number of budget places in universities with targeted contracts with businesses, and reducing hotel contributions to social funds to ensure wage growth.

Currently, there are 83 higher education institutions and 140 vocational schools in Russia offering degrees in "Service, Tourism, and Hospitality." Each year, they graduate 5,942 managers and 14,617 specialists. By 2030, the country plans to create 38,000 hotel rooms. To service them, it will be necessary to train 55,000 employees and 27,000 specialists from higher education institutions and technical schools in the coming years.