Forecast: Hospitality Employment in South Africa

The hospitality sector in South Africa experienced fluctuating employment from 2013 to 2023, revealing notable volatility. In 2013, employment stood at 102.18 thousand jobs but increased significantly to 113.8 thousand by 2014. The upward trend continued until 2015 when it peaked at 132.93 thousand jobs. Subsequent years saw a decline and plateau, with a minor rebound in 2020. By 2023, employment was recorded at 121.36 thousand jobs. Year-on-year variations over the last two years were modest, at around 0.06%. The five-year CAGR preceding 2023 was -0.72%.

Forecasts for 2024 through 2028 indicate a slight annual growth rate of 0.04%, suggesting stabilization with minimal growth prospects.

Future trends to watch for:

- Impact of technological advancements on job roles within the sector.- Influence of global economic conditions on tourism and, consequently, employment in hospitality.- Potential for policy changes to stimulate job creation in the industry.