Forecasting demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industry

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 econo...

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Main Authors: Sandra Makumbirofa, Andrea Saayman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2018-04-01
Series:Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jefjournal.org.za/index.php/jef/article/view/189
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author Sandra Makumbirofa
Andrea Saayman
author_facet Sandra Makumbirofa
Andrea Saayman
author_sort Sandra Makumbirofa
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj.art-306fcceed73f4e71a0211965b2a3a84d2022-12-21T23:41:25ZengAOSISJournal of Economic and Financial Sciences1995-70762312-28032018-04-01111e1e1110.4102/jef.v11i1.189159Forecasting demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industrySandra Makumbirofa0Andrea Saayman1Unit for Tourism Research in Economics Environs and Society (TREES), North-West UniversityUnit for Tourism Research in Economics Environs and Society (TREES), North-West University, South Africa and Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, North-West UniversityAs 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.https://jefjournal.org.za/index.php/jef/article/view/189univariate forecastinglabour demandaccommodation industry
spellingShingle Sandra Makumbirofa
Andrea Saayman
Forecasting demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industry
Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences
univariate forecasting
labour demand
accommodation industry
title Forecasting demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industry
title_full Forecasting demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industry
title_fullStr Forecasting demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industry
title_full_unstemmed Forecasting demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industry
title_short Forecasting demand for qualified labour in the South African hotel industry
title_sort forecasting demand for qualified labour in the south african hotel industry
topic univariate forecasting
labour demand
accommodation industry
url https://jefjournal.org.za/index.php/jef/article/view/189
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