WTTC reports pandemic took heavy toll on women, youth in travel & tourism

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, has released a new report revealing the impact of the pandemic on employment for women and youth in the global travel and tourism sector.

Close to 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%) and nearly 19 million young workers (15%) supported by the sector in 2019.

“More must be done”

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 makes it critical that the industry learns from these hardships and implements 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% above pre-pandemic levels, outpacing the global average, which remained 4.1 per cent 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.

“This report highlights the extraordinary potential of Travel & Tourism to drive inclusive growth, but it also underscores the urgent need for action,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC president & CEO. “Women and young people are the backbone of our sector, yet they continue to face significant barriers. By investing in skills, promoting inclusive policies, and fostering entrepreneurship, we can unlock the full potential of these groups and ensure that our sector leads the way in creating meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities.”

Women remain underrepresented

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 and tourism workforce compared to the wider economy, face particular challenges in accessing stable employment.

The joint report calls for urgent action to address these disparities and maximize the sector’s potential as a driver of inclusive growth.

Key areas of focus for governments and the travel and tourism sector include:

• Develop policies for skills training and gender equality
• Enhance job opportunities for women and youth
• Invest in education and leadership programs
• Implement inclusive hiring practices and equal pay
• Support flexible work arrangements and childcare
• Promote entrepreneurship through support for start-ups and small businesses

For more information, visit www.wttc.org.