Key Takeaways:
- Accommodation and food services sector is expected to experience a labor shortage, affecting 64 percent of businesses in Canada.
- According to Indeed, the average salary for a hospitality manager is CAD $89,062 per year in British Columbia.
- The demand for hospitality professionals has grown with over a million non-resident international visitors arrived at Canadian airports in July 2022, a big leap since March 2020.
Statistics Canada recently published a report covering the labor challenges in the country as of June 2022.
“Based on the results of the survey, shortage of labor force, recruiting skilled employees, and retaining skilled employees are leading obstacles businesses expect to face in the short term,” the article stated.
“In response to these challenges, many businesses plan to have management and current employees work more hours to address these labor obstacles.”
Of all the business sectors, the study revealed that the accommodation and food services sector is the one affected the most, with 64 percent of businesses stating they expected a labor shortage and an increase in vacant positions in the 2nd quarter of 2022.
Business owners have already expressed their concern over school starting in September, impacting their businesses when student-workers devote more time to their studies.
“Kids are looking for summer jobs, which is fine, but when August 15 rolls around and they go to university it’s going to be quite the dilemma, and we’re discussing the possibility of closing an extra day,” said Italian restaurant owner Richard Valente in an article by CTV News.
Just before the pandemic, eight out of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories listed tourism jobs as in-demand occupations.
Hospitality and tourism numbers in Canada
The revenue generated by the hospitality sector of Canada is astounding. Citing a report published in Statista which highlights pre-COVID statistics and projections, here are some of the numbers:
The Canadian Accommodation Industry Revenue peaked at CAD $8.87 billion in 2020. The market size of the Canadian full restaurant service industry received a 2021 forecast of raking in USD $22.3 billion. The market size of the Canadian bar and nightclub sector was pegged at USD $2.94 billion in 2021.
Recent data also shows that international travel to Canada continues to rise, according to data by Statistics Canada:
- In July 2022, international arrivals to Canada rose sharply in a one-year period.
- United States residents took 1.2 million trips to Canada through land ports, exceeding one million for the first time in almost three years.
- Over a million non-resident international visitors arrived at Canadian airports in July 2022, the first month to reach this milestone since March 2020.
Reasons to study Hospitality in Canada
There are several reasons why studying Hospitality in Canada makes for a very good proposition for future international students.
First, there are outstanding job openings. The current situation has contributed to a very high demand for hospitality professionals in the country. According to Indeed, the average salary for a hospitality manager is CAD $89,062 per year in British Columbia. Next, higher education in Canada is known for its excellent quality. Last but not least, hospitality managers in Canada open themselves to a wider network for more career opportunities.
Studying in Vancouver specifically allows international students to immerse in a multicultural environment. This allows them to be more comfortable when learning, but also expands their knowledge and skills across all world cultures.
Study Hospitality Management in Eton
Take up the Business Administration Major in Hospitality Management program at Eton College. This program focuses on the functional aspects of business and commerce in Canada’s multibillion-dollar hospitality industry.
Students will learn everything about hospitality management and gain knowledge and skills useful for understanding key business practices in operations management, revenue management, and marketing techniques.
Potential career options include the following:
- Corporate hospitality associate
- Corporate travel buyer
- Hospitality/tourism business development manager
- Hotel/tourism account manager
- Project manager
- Experience manager
- Hospitality/tourism relationship manager
- Hospitality/tourism/travel sales
- Marketing assistant manager
Learn more and browse the official Eton College website. Contact the school for more information about its Business Administration Major in Hospitality Management program.