Almost 70 million people working in travel and tourism lost their jobs during the pandemic, but women and young people were disproportionately impacted because their roles were more likely to be in the worst affected areas such as hospitality and food services.
While the sector has broadly seen a strong recovery, the ‘Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment’ report found it employed 42 million women and just over 16 million young people in 2022, notably lower than the 48.4 million women (-13 percent) and nearly 19 million young workers (15 percent) supported by the sector in 2019.
While the sector remains a vital source of jobs for underrepresented groups, the report makes clear that more must be done to ensure an inclusive and equitable recovery.
The report, which examines employment trends across 185 economies from 2019 to 2022, underscores the sector’s potential as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and social progress.
It is critical that we learn from these hardships and implement measures to protect these groups from being disproportionately affected in future crises.
According to the latest EIR data, in 2023, the travel and tourism sector’s GDP contribution rose by 29.1 percent above pre-pandemic levels, outpacing the global average, which remained 4.1 percent below.
Yet despite this economic rebound, the social recovery continued to lag, particularly for women and young people who remain more likely to be stuck in informal, part-time, or low-wage roles without security or growth potential.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “This report highlights the extraordinary potential of Travel & Tourism to drive inclusive growth, but it also underscores the urgent need for action.
The report also highlights that women remain underrepresented in high-wage and leadership roles, with the gender split in travel and tourism employment nearly mirroring that of the wider economy.
Young workers, who make up a greater share of the Travel & Tourism workforce compared to the wider economy, face particular challenges in accessing stable employment.
Saudi Arabia Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, welcomed the joint report findings and emphasised the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting youth and female employment in the Travel & Tourism sector.
