Original Research

Forecasting demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industry

Sandra Makumbirofa, Andrea Saayman
Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences | Vol 11, No 1 | a189 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jef.v11i1.189 | © 2018 Sandra Makumbirofa, Andrea Saayman | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 09 February 2018 | Published: 19 April 2018

About the author(s)

Sandra Makumbirofa, Unit for Tourism Research in Economics Environs and Society (TREES), North-West University, South Africa
Andrea Saayman, Unit for Tourism Research in Economics Environs and Society (TREES), North-West University, South Africa and Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, North-West University, South Africa

Abstract

As South Africa’s popularity as a tourist destination increases, the need for skilled human capital also increases. The study of skills development and human capital in all sectors of the economy has long been topical as a means to support organisational progression that can eventually lead to economic growth. Estimates suggest that tourism and hospitality employ at least 10% of the global workforce and consequently prove to be a sector that cannot be readily ignored. However, because of the complex and consumption-based nature of the tourism sector, and the general scarcity of sector-related information, data on both demand and supply of skills are few and of a qualitative rather than a quantitative nature. This research addresses this gap and aims to forecast the demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industry. The research methodology is twofold; firstly, hotel turnover is forecasted using univariate forecasting methods and data available from Statistics South Africa; secondly, employment elasticities were determined. Linking elasticity with turnover forecasts presents an estimate of the future demand for qualified labour in the hotel industry. In addition, the typical qualifications required are based on information obtained from CATHSSETA and a survey.

Keywords

univariate forecasting; labour demand; accommodation industry

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