London pub workers see among the highest pay rises in the UK
A barman serving takeaway drinks (Yui Mok/PA)
/ PA Archiveondon hospitality workers have seen some of the highest pay rises in the country, new data shows, as pubs, hotels and restaurants battle to attract and retain talent in the face of staff shortages and soaring costs.
Hospitality employees in London received an average pay rise of 11.5% over the past year, according to data from hospitality industry hiring platform Caterer.com, which also reported a record 1,700 job vacancies on its platform offering salaries in excess of £50,000.
Workers in the London’s pubs have been among the best beneficiaries in the industry, with an average 11.8% pay increase for those in entry level roles, compared to 6.6% nationally.
More than 29% of UK hospitality employers say they are focusing on offering competitive rewards and benefits to help remain attractive to top talent, including pensions (47.2%), competitive annual leave (43.8%) and bonuses (43.8%).
Bonuses (21.3%), mental health and wellbeing days (19.3%), and health insurance (17.8%), are among the most common benefits being offered by bosses as part of staff reward packages.
The increased pay and benefits has helped spark a surge in hospitality applications, according to Caterer.com, with thousands of people looking to pubs, restaurants and hotels for new or additional income.
Kathy Dyball, Director at Caterer.com, said: “As the long-standing skills shortage continues to impact the sector, hospitality employers are focused on offering competitive salaries and benefits to attract and retain the people they need.
“Despite the ongoing cost of living crisis and other challenges faced by hospitality employers, such as rising energy costs and inflation, the industry understands the value of its people, and has ramped up efforts to provide appealing and rewarding opportunities for employees.”