European hospitality continues to face serious skills and labour shortages, according to a new report from HOTREC, the association representing the European hotel, restaurant and café sector.

The findings confirm that staffing remains one of the most pressing structural challenges for operators across the EU, with vacancies concentrated in both front-of-house and kitchen roles and persistent difficulty in attracting qualified candidates.

What does the report say about the sector?

HOTREC, which brings together national hospitality associations from across Europe, identifies ongoing shortages of skilled workers as a continuing constraint on the industry. The report points to labour scarcity as a factor limiting growth, constraining expansion capacity and adding cost pressure for hotel and restaurant businesses.

The skills dimension is central: operators report gaps not only in volume of available staff but in the qualifications and training of candidates entering the sector. This combination — fewer workers and weaker skill matches — leaves businesses competing for a limited pool of experienced personnel.

Why does this matter for operators?

Labour shortages have direct operational consequences. Businesses affected by unfilled vacancies face constraints on opening hours, reduced service capacity and higher wage costs as employers compete for scarce staff. For investors, staffing risk is increasingly a factor in underwriting expansion plans and new openings.

The hospitality sector across Europe has struggled to return to pre-pandemic employment levels, and the HOTREC findings indicate the shortfall has not resolved. Recruitment and retention remain difficult in most major markets, with seasonal and rural locations particularly exposed.

What is HOTREC calling for?

As the umbrella body for the European hospitality industry, HOTREC uses the report to press policymakers on measures that would ease the labour squeeze. The association has consistently argued for:

• Better recognition of hospitality qualifications and vocational training pathways across EU member states
• Policy support for attracting workers into the sector, including addressing barriers in labour mobility
• Enhanced cooperation between the industry, education systems and public employment services

The report positions skills development as a shared responsibility between operators, national governments and EU institutions, with vocational training and industry-based learning flagged as key tools for rebuilding the sector's workforce pipeline.

What happens next?

The report gives HOTREC fresh evidence for its advocacy in Brussels as the EU continues work on skills policy, vocational education and labour mobility files. Expect the association to push the findings in discussions with the European Commission and member-state governments, while national hospitality associations use the data to press domestic reform on training, immigration and employment rules. For operators, the practical implication is unchanged: staffing costs and recruitment competition will remain a defining feature of the European hospitality market through the coming cycle.