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It's summer and that means high season and busy times for the tourism sector. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, more than 285 million tourists traveled internationally from January to March 2024, an increase of about 20% compared to 2023.

Canada is nearing its 2019 levels of international tourist arrivals, indicating the sector's recovery from the pandemic. However, the situation isn't as good as it appears: the tourism and hospitality industry is experiencing a worker shortage worldwide.

This labor gap threatens tourism destinations, like Canada, by impacting service quality and potentially damaging the reputation and desirability of hospitality brands.

Employers are scrambling to find enough staff to deliver quality services to summer visitors. Traditionally, employers have relied on students looking for summer jobs and temporary foreign workers. In some places, like Alberta, the industry has even successfully lobbied for dedicated immigration streams to fill this gap.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has made this situation more visible, the labor shortage is not new and has deep roots. Hospitality companies now face difficulties in attracting and retaining talent.

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