The report, Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce, was launched during WTTC’s 25th Global Summit in Rome, supported by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, Coraggio Group, Miles Partnership, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. It draws on research from 20 economies, including surveys of business leaders and in-depth interviews with industry stakeholders
Strong job creation, but rising gaps
In 2024, travel and tourism supported a record 357 million jobs worldwide, with 371 million expected in 2025. By 2035, the sector is forecast to account for one in three new jobs created globally. However, demand for labour is projected to exceed supply by 16%, creating shortages across key roles.
Hospitality is expected to face an 8.6 million worker gap, around 18% below staffing needs. Lower-skilled roles, which are critical to the sector and difficult to automate, will remain the most in demand, requiring over 20 million additional workers.
Among the 20 economies studied, China (16.9 million), India (11 million), and the EU (6.4 million) will see the largest absolute shortages. In relative terms, Japan (-29%), Greece (-27%), and Germany (-26%) will face the steepest gaps compared with projected demand.
Call to action
Gloria Guevara, WTTC Interim CEO, said “Travel & 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 & 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 & Tourism.
“This report is a call to action. By working together with governments and educators, our sector will meet these challenges and continue to be one of the most rewarding sectors, offering dynamic futures for the next generations. WTTC will work with government officials around the world to ensure policies are implemented to reduce this gap and unlock the potential in their countries.”
His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, added: “By 2035, one in three new jobs will come from Travel & Tourism – no other sector can claim that. Saudi Arabia shows what vision and investment can achieve, with over 649,000 training opportunities, and a workforce that is nearly 50% women.”
Sara Meaney, Managing Partner at Coraggio Group, commented: “This report offers us all so much more than quotable datapoints; it serves as an invitation to rethink how we attract, grow, and keep talent in an ever-changing environment. “It will require investment and intention to design jobs that inspire, support careers that evolve, and invest in workplaces that reflect the values of today’s workforce. This is our chance to redefine what it means to work in Travel & Tourism.”
Tags: Gloria Guevara, WTTC
