Thousands of EU workers quit hospitality jobs last year, report says

Over 90.000 EU workers left Britain's hospitality industry last year, amid an enormous shift in the industry's workforce since the pandemic and Brexit, according to a recent report.

Employment website Caterer.com said more applications were coming from UK workers (three out of five hospitality employers) than ever before.

The lack of staff in the sector was heightened last year after foreign workers left the country as a result of the Brexit and the pandemic.

The vacancy rate at Caterer.com has increased by 342% since the reopening of the catering industry, with currently there over 28,179 vacancies advertised on the website.

London was identified as adversely affected by the exodus, as research estimated the proportion of EU workers in the city prior to the pandemic could make up to 75%.

Kathy Dyglobe of Caterer.com said: "It's encouraging to see more UK workers entering the industry as people see the valuable, long-term employment opportunities hospitality can offer.

Companies have been hit further in recent weeks by NHS Covid staff being told to isolate themselves amid the 'pingdemic' epidemic which forced venues to cut or close their opening times entirely.