Report shows tourism industry still struggles to recruit chefs into sector

Progress made in recruitment overall but finding culinary staff a 'considerable difficulty'

More than half of Irish tourism hospitality businesses have reported “considerable difficulty” recruiting chefs as the sector continues to face employment challenges, new research has found.

More than half of Irish tourism hospitality businesses have reported “considerable difficulty” recruiting chefs in the past year, as the sector continues to face employment challenges, new research has found.

The Tourism Careers Research 2025 Update: Summary Report from Fáilte Ireland, based on responses from 569 businesses and 597 workers, found 52% of employers in the tourism sector said they had “considerable” difficulty getting chefs or culinary staff, with a further 34% reported “some difficulty” getting staff, and the remaining 14% saying they had little or no difficulty bringing them on board.

Finding culinary staff was deemed the most difficult area to recruit within the sector, the research suggests. Recruitment for all positions had at least some difficulty for more than half of companies, with problems in recruitment of drivers, managers/supervisors, instructors, bar service workers, and tour guides.

Staff retention is also an issue, particularly for businesses seeking to keep on to culinary staff, waiting staff, and bar staff. A lack of affordable accommodation and wages were two of the biggest factors affecting recruitment and retention. 

While the report's figures highlighted the recruitment challenges the industry is facing, significant progress was made in recruitment of workers for accommodation services, bar services and waiters/waitresses.

Fáilte Ireland also noted that progress has been made since the report was first carried out in 2021, with year-on year change having plateaued, and the percentage of employers answering ‘considerable difficulty’ similar to 2024 in every position.

Better basic pay remains the top factor in attracting and retaining staff, and 62% of workers report that pay conditions in the sector have improved in the last two years. These include both basic pay and remuneration for unsocial hours, such as bank holidays.

Some 86% of staff see tourism as a long-term career, up from 71% in 2021. The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) president, Cork hotelier Michael Magnier, welcomed the research. “We have made enormous strides in recent years investing in people development, upskilling, and promoting careers within our sector. This is a key priority for Irish hotels and guesthouses, as clearly reflected in today’s research findings which we welcome,” Mr Magnier said.

Fáilte Ireland director of sector development Jenny De Saulles said the industry "cannot afford to stand still. If the plateau we’re seeing continues, we risk slipping into reaction mode just as other sectors are stepping up their efforts to attract talent and retain talent. To futureproof tourism, we must keep our focus on people. That means investing in skills, communicating clearly and consistently, and prioritising employee development at every level.”

The research was undertaken in partnership with Jobs.ie.