The number of persons employed in travel agencies in Finland has experienced a significant decline over the past decade, from 1.85 thousand employees in 2013 to 0.853 thousand employees in 2023. This represents approximately a 54% reduction. The average annual decline (CAGR) over the last five years was about -8.54%, reflecting a steady downward trend exacerbated by the sharp decreases during the COVID-19 pandemic years (2020-2021).
Significant year-on-year changes include a drastic drop in employment in 2020 with a 29.64% decrease, largely due to pandemic-related restrictions. From 2022 to 2023, the sector continued to shrink at a rate of -5.22%. Forecasts suggest an even sharper decline, projecting a workforce of just 0.35 thousand by 2028, with a forecasted 5-year CAGR of -14.16% and a total reduction of 53.4% from 2024 to 2028.
Future trends to watch for include potential disruptions from continued digitalization in travel booking, changing consumer behaviors post-pandemic, and economic factors impacting travel demand. Monitoring recovery strategies within the travel industry globally and any government interventions will be critical for understanding future employment prospects in this sector.
