WTTC, in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, has launched a new report revealing the stark impact of the pandemic on woman and youth employment within the global travel and tourism sector, and how more must be done to ensure an inclusive and equitable recovery.
Almost 70 million people working in travel and tourism lost their jobs during the pandemic, but women and young people were disproportionately impacted because their roles were more likely to be in the worst affected areas such as hospitality and food services.
While the sector has broadly seen a strong recovery, the Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment report found it employed 42 million women and just over 16 million young people in 2022, notably lower than the 48.4 million women (-13 per cent) and nearly 19 million young workers (15 per cent) supported by the sector in 2019.
The report, which examines employment trends across 185 economies from 2019 to 2022, underscores the sector’s potential as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and social progress.
According to the latest EIR data, in 2023, the travel and tourism sector’s GDP contribution rose by 29.1 per cent above pre-pandemic levels, outpacing the global average, which remained 4.1 per cent below. Yet despite this economic rebound, the social recovery continued to lag, particularly for women and young people who remain more likely to be stuck in informal, part-time, or low-wage roles without security or growth potential.
The report also highlights that women remain underrepresented in high-wage and leadership roles, with the gender split in travel and tourism employment nearly mirroring that of the wider economy. Meanwhile, young workers, who make up a greater share of the travel and tourism workforce compared to the wider economy, face particular challenges in accessing stable employment.
This joint report calls for urgent action to address these disparities and maximise the sector’s potential as a driver of inclusive growth. It is critical to learn from these hardships and implement measures to protect these groups from being disproportionately affected in future crises.
Key areas of focus for governments and the travel and tourism sector include developing policies for skills training and gender equality; enhancing job opportunities for women and youth; investing in education and leadership programmes; implementing inclusive hiring practices and equal pay; supporting flexible work arrangements and childcare; and promoting entrepreneurship through support for start-ups and small businesses
Saudi Arabia minister of tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb, welcomed the joint report findings and emphasised the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting youth and female employment in the travel and tourism sector: “In 2022, Saudi women’s employment in tourism was the fifth fastest growing among G20 countries. The focus on localising services, in areas like AlUla and Diriyah, has created new opportunities for women in heritage tourism jobs. Through stronger partnerships, tourism can transform into a vehicle for inclusive development, creating a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone.”
Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO, added: “Women and young people are the backbone of our sector, yet they continue to face significant barriers. By investing in skills, promoting inclusive policies, and fostering entrepreneurship, we can unlock the full potential of these groups and ensure that our sector leads the way in creating meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities.”
Read the full report here.
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