WASHINGTON—As greater than two-thirds of motels proceed to expertise staffing shortages, hoteliers are providing extra pay and incentives to draw and retain expertise, in accordance with a brand new survey carried out by the American Resort & Lodging Affiliation (AHLA).
Over the past six months, 82 p.c of respondents have elevated wages, which hit a record-high common for motels in December 2023. As well as, 59 p.c are providing higher flexibility with hours, and 33 p.c are increasing advantages. Nonetheless, 72 p.c say they’re nonetheless unable to fill open positions.
Sixty-seven p.c of survey respondents mentioned they’re experiencing a staffing scarcity, and 12 p.c mentioned they’re “severely understaffed,” which means the scarcity is affecting their skill to function. Probably the most essential staffing want is housekeeping, with 48 p.c rating it as their high hiring want.
These numbers are an enchancment from Could 2023, when 82 p.c of survey respondents indicated they had been experiencing a staffing scarcity.
Respondents to the newest survey are trying to fill a median of 9 positions per property, practically unchanged from Could 2023 however up from the seven vacancies per property common in January 2023.
Ongoing staffing challenges are leading to historic profession alternatives for lodge staff. There are greater than 70,000 lodge jobs at the moment open throughout the nation, in accordance with Certainly. As of December 2023, nationwide common lodge wages had been at an all-time excessive of $23.91 per hour, in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Moreover, common lodge wages have elevated quicker than common wages all through the overall financial system for the reason that pandemic, and lodge advantages and suppleness are higher than ever.
“The lodge workforce scenario is slowly enhancing due to record-high common wages and higher advantages and upward mobility than ever earlier than,” mentioned AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers. “However nationwide labor shortages are stopping hoteliers from filling tens of hundreds of jobs, and that downside will weigh closely on our members till Congress takes motion. We urge lawmakers to deal with this pressing subject by creating an H-2B returning employee exemption, passing the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act, and passing the H-2 Enhancements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act.”
As of December, the US had 9 million job openings, however solely 6.3 million unemployed folks to fill them, in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Congress can assist hoteliers handle workforce shortages by taking the next actions:
- Increasing and streamlining the authorized H-2B guestworker program. The H-2B program is significant to serving to unbiased motels and resorts in distant trip locations fill seasonal roles, however this system is capped at 66,000 visas annually. Exempting returning staff from this insufficient cap would assist hoteliers rent staff who can present essential staffing reduction for seasonal small enterprise motels and assist rebuild the post-pandemic financial system.
- Cosponsor and go the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act (S. 255/H.R.1325). A historic variety of asylum seekers are already housed in motels throughout the US. They’re awaiting courtroom dates and are following the authorized course of. Sadly, present regulation prevents them from legally working for not less than six months, forcing them to depend on help from native governments and communities. This bipartisan laws would assist motels handle essential staffing wants by permitting asylum seekers to work as quickly as 30 days after making use of for asylum.
- Cosponsor and go the H-2 Enhancements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act. This invoice would broaden the H-2A/H-2B labor certification interval to a few years and completely authorize the waiver of in-person interviews for returning staff. The HIRE Act would make it simpler for certified staff to safe jobs in fields struggling to recruit and retain sufficient staff to fulfill demand.
