Reacting to labour force shortage : a selection of perspectives in the Maltese restaurant industry

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify what strategies are being considered and/or employed within the hospitality industry, with particular focus on the restaurant industry Malta, when it comes to mitigating labour shortage. The researcher seeks to further understand and analyse whether such strategies employed have had a positive, neutral or negative impact on this industry thus far. Moreover, the researcher aims to identify and assess what, if any, additional measures can be employed to replace or support existing strategies that may potentially positively contribute to mitigating this significant issue the hospitality and in particular, the restaurant industry is facing in a more meaningful and effective way. The researcher employed a qualitative research design approach using semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth insights from participants ensuring that the pre-set open-ended questions would probe the most relevant issues regarding the industry and its challenges. The general findings that emerged from the analysis reflect the multifaceted challenges and strategies within Malta’s hospitality industry. These findings suggest that while the industry is making efforts to attract to attract and retain talent, there remains a pressing need for more holistic and sustainable approaches. This study concludes that while recruitment, retention, and reliance on foreign labour have eased immediate labour shortages in Malta’s restaurant industry, they expose key limitations, such as service mismatches, concerns over tourism authenticity, and inefficiency cause by bureaucratic processes like the Single Permit system. These findings imply that existing strategies offer only short-term solutions. Sustainable solutions require integrated approaches that enhance retention, align labour supply with industry needs, and reduce administrative burdens. Collaboration among government, industry leaders, stakeholders and academic institutions would be essential for evidence-based policymaking and long-term workforce stability.