FAREWELL TO THE SUMMER JOB? A BRITISH TRADITION FADES

British Summer Jobs Under Threat as Hospitality Vacancies Drop by 25%

A sharp fall in hospitality job postings this summer is threatening one of the UK's key sources of seasonal employment—particularly for students and young people.

According to new figures from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), temporary job adverts in the hospitality sector are down 25% year-on-year, with 22,369 fewer unique postings compared to the same period in 2024. The data raises concerns for students and school leavers who traditionally rely on summer jobs to gain work experience and earn extra income.

The findings were released in a joint statement by UKHospitality and the REC, warning that the downturn could signal the “death of the great British summer job.”

Temporary and casual work in hospitality—ranging from beach kiosks and pubs to hotels and tourist attractions—has long been a lifeline for young people entering the workforce. But this year’s drop in vacancies is expected to limit those opportunities, just as schools and universities break for the holidays.

The decline comes despite a boom in UK tourism. Tourist spend on day visits in England rose by 6% in 2024 to £48.4 billion, following a 15% increase in 2023. In April alone, Brits took 68.6 million domestic trips, up 10% year-on-year.

Yet employers are struggling to keep up with rising costs. A major factor is the increase in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) following changes announced in last year’s Budget, which have added £3.4 billion in annual costs for hospitality businesses. Since then, the sector has shed 84,000 jobs.

“This is the time when hospitality businesses should be ramping up hiring for the busy summer months,” said Allen Simpson, Chief Executive of UKHospitality. “But instead, we’re seeing 22,000 fewer jobs advertised than last year. That’s a clear sign of the financial strain on employers.”

Simpson added: “Unless the Government acts, we could well be witnessing the death of the great British summer job. That’s not just bad for businesses—it’s bad for young people, skills development, and the economy.”

UKHospitality is calling for urgent reforms in the upcoming Budget, including changes to NICs, lower business rates, and a cut in VAT for hospitality firms.