UK tourism jobs growing faster than in other sectors
Jobs in UK tourism have grown more than twice as much as other sectors of the economy in the five years to 2014.
Employment in tourism industries increased by almost 12% from 2.66 million to 2.97 million over the period, compared to non-tourism sectors which grew by 5%.
The highest rate of growth was in accommodation, and food and beverage service, which both increased by 15%.
The figures also show that 90% of tourism workers are permanent, 5% are casual employees and 5% are in other forms of temporary employment.
The profile of tourism workers is generally younger, with 26% of tourism workers aged 16 to 24, compared with 11% in non-tourism industries.
VisitBritain said the growth in tourism jobs echoes the growth in inbound tourism in recent years, with 2015 reaching record levels.
The number of overseas visitors to the UK is forecast to rise again in 2016 to 36.7 million visits, up 3.8% on last year.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Overseas travelers to the United States declined by 2.5% in 2025