Finding workers has always been a challenge for the hospitality sector, as these jobs are often viewed as temporary, with many servers and wait staff in particular using them as a stepping stone towards a different career goal. But in the wake of Brexit and the pandemic, hospitality employers appear to be in a perpetual struggle to re-staff their workforce, drawing from a fragile, broken labor market. 

The biggest issue employers are facing is a lack of confidence in the sector following the pandemic, which has left the  hospitality and catering industry,  with dismally low levels of job security, and many workers seeking out more reliable employment. Additionally, a recent survey showed that more than 40 percent of workers in the restaurant and hotel sectors are foreign nationals, a clear indication of the heavy reliance the hospitality industry has on foreign workers. With Brexit now in full effect, many of these workers will be returning to their home countries, as they will no longer be eligible to continue working within the UK.

Despite these challenges, the hospitality industry remains the third largest business sector in the UK, and it is imperative for employers to do all they can to attract and retain staff members. One solution for the pressing labor shortages is to take advantage of the Skilled Workers Visa program, which allows businesses to hire foreign nationals to fill critical service positions. This program is particularly popular with Filipino nationals, many of whom are workers skilled in a variety of areas within the   hospitality and catering sector  – from chefs to waiting staff – and are eligible to come to the UK for an eligible job with an approved employer.