Raleigh hotels have nearly 800 job openings

There are currently nearly 800 open hotel jobs in the Raleigh area, according to Indeed.com. 

Filling these positions is critical to the economic health of Raleigh and North Carolina. Last year alone, hotel guests spent more than $13.5 billion in destinations across the state, and North Carolina hotels generated nearly $1.2 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue.

Amid the busy summer travel season, hotels are looking to quickly fill open positions to meet travel demand. Hoteliers are offering potential hires a host of incentives to fill vacancies, according to a national survey of hoteliers conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

75% of respondents are increasing wages, 64% are offering greater flexibility with hours and 36% are expanding benefits – but 87% said they are still unable to fill open positions.

82% of survey respondents indicate they are experiencing a staffing shortage, 26% severely so – meaning the shortage is impacting the hotel’s ability to operate. The most critical staffing need is housekeeping, with 40% ranking it as their top hiring need. Hotels, however, are seeking employees in a multitude of roles from entry-level through management.

These staffing challenges are resulting in historic career opportunities for hotel employees. There are nearly 100,000 hotel jobs currently open across the nation, and as of May, national average hotel wages were at a near-historic high of more than $23.50 per hour. Since the pandemic, average hotel wages (+25%) have increased more than 47% faster than average wages throughout the general economy (+17%), and hotel benefits and flexibility are better than ever.

"The need for workers throughout the lodging industry continues to drive historic career opportunities for hotel employees, who are enjoying near-record wages and better benefits and flexibility than ever before," said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers.

As of May, the United States had 9.8 million job openings, but only 6.1 million unemployed people to fill them, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

AHLA said some of the ways Congress can help hoteliers address workforce shortages is by taking the following actions:

Expand the legal H-2B guestworker program by including an H-2B Returning Worker Exemption in the Fiscal Year 2024 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. The H-2B program is vital to helping independent hotels and resorts in remote vacation destinations fill seasonal roles, but the program is capped at 66,000 visas each year. AHLA is asking Congress to modify the H-2B nonimmigrant visa program by exempting returning workers from the inadequate 66,000 annual visa cap. These employees would provide critical staffing relief for seasonal small business hotels and help to rebuild the post-pandemic economy.

Cosponsor and pass the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act (255/H.R.1325). A historic number of asylum seekers are already housed in hotels across America. They are awaiting court dates and are following the legal process. Unfortunately, current law prevents them from legally working for at least six months, forcing them to rely on assistance from local governments and communities. This bipartisan legislation would help hotels address critical staffing needs by allowing asylum seekers to work as soon as 30 days after applying for asylum.