Risks to hospitality jobs
OVER 16,000 jobs in the food and hospitality sectors in the east of the country, including the Garden County, could be at risk due to Covid-19.
The report ‘Employment in the Drinks and Hospitality Industry: The Threat of Covid-19 to Jobs and How to Minimise it’ was compiled by Dr Anthony Foley of Dublin City University’s Business School on behalf of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI).
The industry body warned the ‘ threat to hospitality employment is severe, considerable and present’. In the mid-east area of Wicklow, Louth, Meath and Kildare, the study suggests around 16,600 jobs could be lost before the end of the year. Jobs
in hospitality represent about 5.8 per cent of the employment in the county.
The analysis suggests that over 100,000 jobs in the drinks and hospitality sector nationwide could be at risk as the industry attempts to recover from the Covid-19 lockdown, with restaurants and pubs operating at a reduced capacity. The report used estimates published by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in August which forecast the tourism and hospitality sectors could face a severe hit due to Covid-19 with a potential overall loss to the economy of €2.3 billion, affecting 200,000 jobs.
DIGI said younger people, who are more likely to work in these areas of the economy, may bear the brunt of the job losses in the industry. The industry body called for further Government support, including a cut to the excise tax rate.