The event catering sector in Norway experienced fluctuations in employment numbers over the past decade. From 2013 to 2019, the sector saw a general upward trend with minor year-on-year variations, peaking at 5.66 thousand employees in 2019. However, employment dropped significantly by 21.18% in 2020 due to the pandemic's impact, decreasing to 4.46 thousand employees. The sector rebounded strongly in 2021 with a 19.11% increase, reaching 5.31 thousand employees, and continued to grow through 2023, standing at 6.21 thousand employees. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2018 to 2023 was 2.4%.
Looking forward, the forecast data predicts continued growth in the sector, with employment expected to reach 6.88 thousand employees by 2028, reflecting a forecasted 5-year CAGR of 1.61% and an overall growth rate of 8.3% from 2023. Future trends to watch for include the impact of technology on service delivery, greater emphasis on health and safety standards, and a potential shift in event formats influenced by digitalization and hybrid events. These developments could significantly shape employment dynamics in the event catering sector.
