Staff shortage in tourist industry

The booming tourism industry is making it difficult to fill positions in the hotel and restaurant industry.

With unemployment figures at an all-time low, many hotels are struggling to find local workers and are finding themselves looking for employees abroad. 

Out of the 819 people currently in full-time employment in the hotel and restaurant industry, 105 are foreign nationals. And the number of foreign workers in the industry is growing.

Difficult to keep up

One of the hotels looking for staff abroad is Hotel Tórshavn. 

“There has always been a challenge to find staff with the relevant qualifications in this industry, but today we are struggling to fill positions regardless of relevant qualifications,” says manager Jenny í Heiðunum.

Faroese people have lots of options when it comes to work these days, she says, and it is difficult to get work permits for foreigners, so in general it is a challenge to keep up with the rapid growth of this industry.

Translated by prosa.fo