The employment levels in the UK's event catering industry have experienced significant fluctuations over the past decade. The number of persons employed peaked in 2016 at 142.68 thousand but has been in a consistent decline since, reaching 111.26 thousand in 2023. This represents a year-on-year contraction of -3.76% from 2022, a continuation of the downward trend observed over the past few years. The five-year compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) leading up to 2023 stood at -4.01%.
Future forecasts predict a continued decline, with employment expected to fall to 88.56 thousand by 2028. This projection indicates an average annual decrease of -3.62% over the next five years and an overall reduction of -16.84% from 2023 levels.
Key future trends to watch for include:
- The impact of technology and automation on the industry, potentially reducing the need for manual labor.
- Changes in consumer preferences and event types, which may influence staffing requirements.
- Economic conditions and their effect on discretionary spending on events.
- Regulatory changes affecting labor and business operations within the catering industry.
