Demand for hospitality staff in the run-up to Christmas has pushed up the number of vacancies in Liverpool city region. Tony McDonough reports
Bars, restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues across Liverpool city region are currently looking to fill a surge in vacancies.
Jobcentres across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton are seeing a surge in demand for hospitality staff ahead of the peak festive season. The sector was already grappling with a staff shortfall following the pandemic.
When hospitality venues shut down for long periods during COVID thousands of workers drifted away to seek employment in other sectors. In May this year LBN reported how bars were struggling to hire security staff to work on the doors.
Linda Usher, Merseyside senior operational lead for Jobcentre Plus in Merseyside, told LBN: “With the festive season fast approaching the hospitality industry is working with Jobcentre Plus to fill thousands of jobs.
“Importantly our dedicated online hospitality section means there is 24-hour information for jobseekers. Jobcentre work coaches are focused on helping employers get the people they and the economy needs. They are regularly hosting hospitality specific recruitment events. Many even offer jobs on the spot.
“From job opportunities in jobcentres to skills academies for people considering a new career, there’s a huge amount of help available. Our work coaches are working tirelessly to get people at any age, or career stage, into rewarding and stable employment.”
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Liverpool South Jobcentres hosted a Christmas Jobs fair working with the Reach Youth Hub. So far 41 people have been offered jobs as a result of the event with “excellent feedback” from some of the bigger employers including Next, Boots and JD Sports.
In Wirral a Christmas Jobs fair took place with 21 employers attending. 278 people came along with 18 offers of employment on the day and 170 second interviews.
The Merseyside Employer team recently held a bespoke jobs fair at FACT in Liverpool city centre. A session was held for people aged 50-plus in the morning and one for young adults in the afternoon. 19 employers attended resulting in 136 people attending second interviews and 22 customers signing up to apprenticeships.
Jobcentre Plus is currently working with Eleven, an employer and training provider. Along with Back 2 work it is delivering a four-week sector-based work academy. This will provide a suite of certificates required to work as a trainee telecoms engineer.
The large recruitment team supported the healthcare assistant recruitment day for NHS at Mersey Ferries terminal. 277 candidates attended with 235 job offers (85%) made.
There was also a virtual conference for Merseyside employers to encourage them to recruit people with a health condition. The Disability Confident Scheme is creating a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability.