Column: Bermudian Employment In Tourism
[Opinion column written by MP Jason Hayward]
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally. In Bermuda, the total direct, indirect and induced economic impact of the tourism sector has increased by 34% from $583 million in 2014 to $886 million in 2018 according to the Tourism Satellite Account. The total economic impact of Tourism represents approximately 12% of all economic activity in Bermuda.
Bermuda has benefited greatly from tourism. The tourism industry generates significant foreign exchange and Government revenue, it is an import contributor to Bermuda’s economic diversification and it generates inward investment through hotel developments and acquisitions.
However, tourism’s most important contribution to the Bermudian economy is the sector’s ability to produce jobs. Tourism is a labor-intensive service sector and accounts for 3,204 direct jobs and thousands of indirect and induced jobs within the economy.
The tourism sector creates jobs for Bermudians of all ages and skill levels in a vast number of job categories. The tourism sector also provides tremendous opportunities for Bermudian job growth.
The Bermuda Hospitality Needs Assessment survey conducted by PWC projects that by 2021 the gap between Bermuda’s future talent supply and demand for hospitality workers will range between 555 and 814 positions. It should be noted that approximately 30% of total hotel jobs are filled by guest workers.
In light of the opportunity that is projected, human resource development in tourism will be given priority attention by the Government. We aim to ensure Bermudians entering the tourism sector have the opportunity to develop a rewarding career.
Since the release of the PWC report, the Department of Workforce Development has targeted Bermudians for tourism employment, skill set development, and training opportunities. In December, The Department of Workforce Development partnered with Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club to host a career fair. A total of one hundred twenty-six persons attended the career fair. Applicants were afforded interviews in a variety of occupation areas including Laundry, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Security, Front Office, Spa, and the Kids Camp.
The Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club had the following to say about the Department’s participation: “A Huge Thank You! To you and your team for partnering with us to make this day a success. We appreciate the Department of Workforce & Development efforts in pre-screening applicants, and your collaboration allowed us to expedite our hiring process and kick start our 2020 Recruitment. Thank you once again!”
In November, The Learn to Earn Restaurant Training Initiative and campaign was launched. The public-private training and development program aims to attract Bermudian jobseekers to restaurant careers. The private-public partnership includes various industry stakeholders and has seen roughly 345 persons enlist their interest in hospitality careers and training. The Learn to Earn initiative will create a pipeline of Bermudian talent in the restaurant industry.
The Government will continue to keep Bermuda on the right track, take a collaborative approach to create more opportunity for Bermudian job seekers and engage employers to address Bermuda’s workforce needs in the tourism sector. In addition, the Government will progress the work on a living wage to ensure that the sector contains quality jobs with decent pay.
- MP Jason Hayward
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Interesting that pepper spray victim turned PLP gravy train politician quotes the PWC report.
I wonder if he places the same gravitas on the PWC report concerning the economic impact of the Americas Cup?
You want Bermudians to forget slavery and how wretched the white people were to BLACK BERMUDIANS. Then, you should quickly forget the pepper spray issues. Oh!!Wait!! Any little odd thing about a black person is always marked as horror by a white.Sad!
Could you be jealous of Jason’s success??
Or, any black person attaining success? Your true feelings are revealing themselves.
Oops!!!
Good – focusing on getting Bermudians jobs is fine – what is Mr Hayward’s position on increasing tourism?
Yet, this MP saw very little value in the Retail Trade and also wants to do away with the Bermuda Tourism Authority under whose watch we saw these tremendous increases in tourism he quotes. Further he completely poo-pooed the PWC report on the Americans Cup while now widely quoting a PWC PLP report – the hypocrisy is just never ending from this directionless, incompetent Government!!