📊 Industry Insights 2025
The World Needs
Skilled Housekeepers
The global hospitality sector is expanding faster than it can train new staff. Here is what the latest international reports and government data tell us about the enormous opportunity that exists right now — and why a certificate puts you ahead of the competition.
12%
of all EU jobs in travel & tourism by 2025
702K+
tourism jobs in Australia — 1 in 23 workers
65%
of hotels report staff shortages globally
$11.4T
projected global tourism industry value by 2027 — the biggest employer on earth
🌍 Global Demand
A Sector Growing
Faster Than Supply
International tourism employment is recovering strongly and growing beyond pre-pandemic levels across all major regions. At the same time, hotels are struggling harder than ever to recruit qualified housekeeping staff — creating a genuine skills gap that trained workers can fill immediately.
Tourism Employment Growth by Region
Percentage growth 2022–2025 (projected)
Sources: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer 2024; European Travel Commission 2024
Hotels Still Unable to Fill Housekeeping Roles
Share of global hotel operators surveyed, 2025
65% — Still have unfilled housekeeping roles
35% — Fully staffed (often temporarily)
Source: American Hotel & Lodging Association Workforce Survey 2024–25
Hardest Hospitality Roles to Fill — Hotel Operator Survey
% of hotel operators citing each role as "very difficult" to recruit (2025)
Sources: AHLA Workforce Survey 2025; McKinsey Global Hospitality Report 2024
🇪🇺 Europe
European Tourism &
Workforce Trends
Tourism-related industries in the European Union employ more than 11 million people and are forecast to support around a quarter of all new jobs in the coming decade. Labour shortages in accommodation and housekeeping roles are now a major policy concern — officially recognised by EU institutions.
Staff Shortage Severity — Select European Hotel Markets
% of properties reporting difficulty recruiting housekeeping staff (2024–2025)
Sources: HOTREC European Hospitality Report 2024; Eurofound Working Conditions Survey 2024
European Market at a Glance — Key Indicators 2025
Selected countries with strong demand for trained housekeeping staff
| Country | Tourism Jobs | Staff Shortage | Market Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇩🇪Germany | 2.9 million | Very High | Growing |
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | 3.1 million | Very High | Growing |
| 🇦🇹Austria | 580,000 | High | Growing |
| 🇭🇺Hungary | 420,000 | Moderate–High | Growing |
| 🇮🇪Ireland | 360,000 | Very High | Growing |
| 🇳🇱Netherlands | 520,000 | High | Growing |
| 🇪🇸Spain | 2.8 million | Moderate | Strong Growth |
Sources: Eurostat Tourism Statistics 2024; HOTREC Labour Market Survey 2024
Tourism contributes around one tenth of total EU economic output and supports a large share of all service sector employment
EU tourism industries employ more than 11 million people, with a large portion in accommodation and food services
European organisations treat workforce shortages in tourism as a major policy priority — which increases the value of structured training and recognised certificates
🌏 Australia & Asia Pacific
The Asia Pacific Region
Is Booming
Australia and the Asia Pacific region represent one of the world's fastest-growing tourism markets. With over 702,000 tourism jobs in Australia alone and rapid hotel expansion across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, this region offers some of the strongest career opportunities for trained housekeeping professionals.
Hotel Room Supply Growth — Asia Pacific & Middle East
Thousands of new hotel rooms added per year, 2020–2025
Sources: STR Global Hotel Census 2024; JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group 2025 Outlook
702K+
Tourism jobs in Australia (2025)
1 in 23
Australian jobs are in tourism
#2
Hospitality — top sector for staff shortages in Australia
8%
Annual growth in APAC hotel revenue
Australian data identifies hospitality as one of the top sectors struggling with staff shortages — creating clear opportunities for trained workers
Asia Pacific hotel markets continue to expand with strong investment in new hotel projects and growing demand for cleaning and room attendant services
Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok and Mumbai are among the fastest growing hospitality job markets in the world — all actively recruiting trained housekeeping staff
📉 Staff Shortages
Why Hotels Cannot
Find Enough Staff
Around the world, hotels report that it is becoming harder than ever to attract and retain skilled staff. Large surveys of hotel operators show that most properties still have open roles they cannot fill — even after raising pay and improving benefits. Housekeeping is repeatedly named as the most difficult position to recruit.
Sources: AHLA 2025; JLL Hotel Workforce Report 2024; TripAdvisor Guest Review Analysis 2024
Top Qualities Hotels Look for When Hiring Housekeeping Staff
% of hiring managers ranking each quality as "essential" (2025 survey)
Source: International Hotel & Restaurant Association Workforce Survey 2024–25
🏨 The Accommodation Sector
Where the
Jobs Are Found
The accommodation sector spans far beyond luxury hotels. Every segment — from five-star resorts to city hostels — requires professional housekeeping. All of them are growing, and all of them are hiring.
🏨 Hotels & Resorts
High global demand
International chains and independent hotels continue to expand. Housekeeping teams are needed every day, in every city, on every continent.
🏢 Motels & Serviced Apartments
Steady job openings
Fast room turnaround and regular cleaning schedules make trained housekeepers essential to daily operations.
🎒 Hostels & Budget Stays
Constant staff rotation
High guest turnover creates frequent openings for trained housekeepers who can manage shared spaces professionally.
🏨 Hotels
🛏️ Motels
🏢 Serviced Apartments
🎒 Hostels
🌴 Resorts
✈️ Airport Hotels
🛳️ Cruise Ships
🏥 Healthcare Facilities
🎓 Student Accommodation
📈 Career Pathway
Where This Certificate
Can Take You
A certificate in housekeeping is not just an entry ticket — it is the first step on a clearly defined career path. Thousands of our graduates have progressed from their first role into supervisory and management positions within just a few years.
🎓
Week 1 — Today
Enrol & complete the certificate — less than one week, fully online, study at your own pace from anywhere in the world
🏨
Month 1–3
Room Attendant / Housekeeper — enter the workforce with a certificate that sets you apart from other applicants. Higher interview success rate, faster hiring decisions
📋
Year 1–2
Senior Room Attendant / Team Leader — take on more responsibility, higher pay, and support newer colleagues. Your structured training becomes visible in results
🌟
Year 2–4
Housekeeping Supervisor / Coordinator — manage schedules, quality standards and team performance. A role where your knowledge of the full process becomes your greatest asset
🏆
Year 4+
Housekeeping Manager / Executive Housekeeper — oversee entire departments, work in premium hotels and resorts globally, command a strong professional salary
📚 Our Sources
Informed by 2025
International Reports
Our curriculum is continuously updated and informed by recent international government and industry reports on tourism workforce trends. Below are the key data sources informing both our course content and this insights page.
Key Data Sources — Recency & Coverage Score
How current and comprehensive each source is (internal assessment, 0–100)
UNWTO World Tourism Barometer 2024 — global tourism recovery data, employment forecasts and regional workforce analysis
HOTREC European Hospitality Report 2024 — EU-wide hotel operator survey covering staffing, wages and recruitment difficulty
Australian Bureau of Statistics Tourism Satellite Account 2024–25 — official national data on tourism employment and economic contribution
AHLA Workforce Survey 2025 — American and global hotel operator data on staffing shortages, recruitment preferences and retention
JLL Hotels & Hospitality 2025 Outlook — Asia Pacific and Middle East hotel supply growth, investment trends and demand forecasts
Eurofound Working Conditions Survey 2024 — European labour market data including accommodation sector employment and skills gaps
The opportunity is real — and it is waiting for you
Hotels around the world are actively looking for trained housekeeping staff right now. Take the first step today.