The World Travel & Tourism Council unveiled a major workforce report at its 25th Global Summit in Rome, projecting that the sector will generate 91 million new jobs by 2035—but warns of a labor shortfall exceeding 43 million workers without urgent action.
The report, Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce, was developed with support from the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, Coraggio Group, Miles Partnership and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Based on surveys of business leaders and in-depth interviews with WTTC Members and stakeholders, it highlights both the scale of opportunity and the risks posed by demographic and structural shifts.
In 2024, travel and tourism supported a record 357 million jobs worldwide. That figure is forecast to rise to 371 million this year. Over the next decade, the sector is expected to account for one in every three net new jobs created globally. But by 2035, global demand for workers will outpace supply by more than 43 million people, leaving labor availability about 16 percent below required levels.
The report forecasts that the hospitality industry alone will face a gap of 8.6 million workers, or 18 percent below needed staffing levels. Low-skilled roles, many of which require human interaction and cannot easily be automated, will remain the most sought after, with more than 20 million additional workers needed worldwide.
According to WTTC, the labor challenge will impact all 20 economies studied. The largest absolute gaps are projected in China (16.9 million), India (11 million) and the European Union (6.4 million). In relative terms, Japan could see its workforce supply sit nearly 29 percent below demand, followed by Greece (27 percent) and Germany (26 percent).
“Travel & Tourism is set to remain one of the world’s biggest job creators, offering opportunities for millions of people worldwide. But we must also recognize that wider demographic and structural changes are reshaping labor markets everywhere,” WTTC interim CEO Gloria Guevara said in a statement. “Many workers left the sector during COVID when travel and tourism came to a standstill. Now, as global unemployment is expected to fall and working age populations to shrink, this is creating an increased pressure on labor supply, especially for fast growing sectors like travel and tourism.”
The WTTC report outlines strategies to prepare for the looming gap, including inspiring more young people to consider careers in travel and tourism, aligning education with employer needs, boosting retention with leadership development and inclusive workplace cultures, and investing in digital literacy, AI adoption and sustainable practices.
The report also calls for greater policy flexibility, including reducing barriers to international recruitment and combining part-time roles into full-time opportunities.