Halle (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Last year, VDAB received about 1,000 job openings for hospitality staff, up from 900 the previous year. Spokesperson Bernard Ostyn noted ongoing staffing shortages due to pandemic impacts and demanding job conditions.
Last year, the VDAB (Flemish Employment and Vocational Training Service) received about 1,000 job openings for hospitality staff, a slight increase from the 900 openings the year before. Despite this growth, there is still a high demand for workers in the hospitality sector. Bernard Ostyn, a spokesperson for VDAB, mentioned that the industry continues to struggle with staffing shortages.
What are the key challenges facing hospitality staffing in Halle?
It has been said that the shortage of hospitality staff is still a serious problem, caused by a few factors. Hospitality jobs can be very demanding, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made it hard for employers to attract and keep workers. Many people left the industry during the pandemic and haven’t returned. As a result, businesses in the hospitality sector are still struggling to find enough workers, and this issue is expected to continue unless more people are interested in these jobs.
Last year, around 1,500 people showed interest in hospitality jobs, but that’s not enough. Many are also looking for jobs in other fields or need training first. Ostyn believes the workshops held in the station square in Halle are very important. He says these workshops help get people excited about hospitality jobs in a fun way. Participants can try things out by making pumpkin soup, vegetarian wraps, and mocktails in a catering trailer.
