NC HOSPITALITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEWS

As many restaurants, hotels, bars, and attractions continue to be impacted by labor shortages and workforce issues, NCRLA’s Workforce Recruitment Task Force and the staff at the association have been hard at work finding a marketing and communications partner to collaborate with in creating a hospitality workforce recruitment campaign. »

Members of the task force reviewed 18 proposals in response to their request from marketing agencies across the state. They chose Pace Communications from Greensboro as our marketing and communications partner.

According to Steve Thanhauser, owner/operator of the Angus Barn and the Chair of the Workforce Recruitment Task Force, “Pace Communications’s proposal rose above the rest as they highlighted their ability to pair strategic initiatives and hiring platforms like Indeed, with creative and branding designed to attract more people to consider working in the hospitality industry.”

Working together in the coming months, we will develop a communications strategy and marketing plan that includes the development of a dedicated website and job portal. At the same time, we will create a hospitality employer brand that builds awareness of the opportunities and value of a hospitality career among qualified candidates.

Help Is Wanted With Recruitment Approaches

North Carolina employers say their toughest challenges are earlystage recruitment (applications, interviews) vs. retention. While some employers in larger cities report finding new technologies to help with staffing, most report challenges with time and resources to utilize new technologies. (NC Hospitality Workforce Recommendations, October 2022)

NC HOSPITALITY EMPLOYERS ARE FIXING SOME FUNCTIONAL CHALLENGES— BUT THE INDUSTRY HAS MORE ROOM TO GROW TO STAY COMPETITIVE.

At the height of the pandemic and in the aftermath, many employers were witnessing employees leaving the industry for jobs with higher wages, flexibility, and stability. However, today:

• Four out of five NC hospitality industry employers reported increasing wages.

• Over one-third reported making benefits more accessible.

Nationally, since 2019, mentions of PTO in low-wage job postings have doubled, “health insurance plan” mentions have grown by 80% and “retirement plan” mentions have grown by 96%. (Indeed-Glassdoor 2023 Hiring Trends Report)

HOSPITALITY IS AN INDUSTRY OF OPPORTUNITY—AND WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU STAFF IT.

NCRLA understands the shifts taking place in the hospitality industry and we’re harnessing technology, innovation, research, and business know-how to help our members attain their goals for business performance and growth.

As you continue to fill in the gaps on labor, soon you will see a dedicated website and job portal that will help you connect with potential employees. We’ve also been busy curating the Employer Toolkit to make your quest easier.

COMING SOON: WHAT’S INSIDE

Our Employer Toolkit is designed to bring you the insight and tools you need to connect with potential staff members and create employee-centric experiences that lead to loyalty and career longevity.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Big picture resources like business insights, legislative happenings, industry snapshots, hospitality trends, and social media best practices.

• Sector-specific resources like relevant job titles and actionfocused job descriptions.

We’ll also provide resources focused on retaining your employees, such as training tips, case studies, and management continuing education ideas.

Think of the Employee Toolkit as your blueprint to staffing success for right now—and for the longer term.

Work In North Carolina

Dynamic industry growth comes with challenges, but North Carolina is uniquely positioned to face these opportunities head on—and build upon the momentum we’ve so earnestly established.