The accommodation and food services industry is dynamic and fast paced. Over half its workforce is between the ages of 15 and 29. It’s also expanding. A thriving ‘foodie’ scene as well as changing consumer habits are creating more and more jobs.
What people love about working in accommodation and food services
Here are some of the benefits of working in accommodation and food services:
- Excellent prospects for a range of roles in the industry. There are many ways to grow. You could start as a waiter, become an assistant manager and then become a venue manager.
- The work is flexible so you can tailor your workload to suit your needs. There are opportunities for part-time, casual, full-time and shift work.
- Skills like customer service, time management and budgeting are transferable across jobs, disciplines and industries.
- There are opportunities to learn on the job and try the work before choosing it as a career.
Where you can work
The accommodation and food services industry has a wide range of employers. For example, you could work for a large organisation such as a large events and accommodation venue, through to a small coffee business.
The kinds of food and accommodation settings you could work in include:
- hotels and motels
- bars
- restaurants
- cafés
- take-away shops
- caterers
- events or gaming venues.
Job demand in Victoria
Below are the projected employment forecasts for the accommodation and food services industry in Victoria. Figures show the number of workers in 2023 and the new workers expected to enter the workforce by 2026.
‘New workers expected’ accounts for workers adding new jobs to the economy and replacing retirees over the next 3 years. These forecasts are estimates only. There will be additional jobs available as people move between jobs and industries.
| Region | Workers 2023 | Workforce growth 2023-2026 | New workers needed by 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 216,239 | 3.1% | 32,258 |
| Melbourne – inner metropolitan | 40,244 | 3.7% | 6,910 |
| Melbourne – inner south-east metropolitan | 20,268 | 2.5% | 2,644 |
| Melbourne – southern metropolitan | 28,566 | 2.6% | 3,825 |
| Melbourne – northern metropolitan | 25,482 | 2.6% | 3,386 |
| Melbourne – eastern metropolitan | 25,396 | 2.7% | 3,475 |
| Melbourne – western metropolitan | 23,696 | 2.5% | 3,095 |
| Ballarat and surrounds (Central Highlands) | 6,803 | 3.4% | 1,097 |
| Bendigo, Echuca and surrounds (Loddon Campaspe) | 8,563 | 3.4% | 1,373 |
| Geelong, Colac and surrounds (Barwon) | 11,829 | 3.5% | 1,957 |
| Gippsland | 7,801 | 3.7% | 1,330 |
| Horsham and surrounds (Wimmera Southern Mallee) | 1,121 | 3.5% | 186 |
| Mildura, Swan Hill and surrounds (Mallee) | 2,273 | 3.3% | 916 |
| Shepparton, Seymour and surrounds (Goulburn) | 5,517 | 3.9% | 991 |
| Wangaratta, Wodonga and surrounds (Ovens Murray) | 5,666 | 4.6% | 1,152 |
| Warrnambool, Hamilton and surrounds (Great South Coast) | 3,015 | 3.2% | 476 |
Source: Victorian Skills Authority employment forecast dashboard
Career success stories
Leela savours success as a junior sous chef
”I found a supportive community with my peers and teachers. They played an important role in refining my culinary skills. Chefs are one of the most in-demand jobs, so there’s lots of opportunity.“
From coffee to classrooms: Brett’s TAFE teaching journey
“If you are passionate about representing your industry and helping others, TAFE teaching can be a great path. I’ve got students who have been a truck driver for 30 years, or an arborist or nurse.“
Pivot in the pandemic: Sanny’s journey into a commercial kitchen
“I chose to get formal training because I knew it would open doors for me to apply for jobs. There are a lot of senior chefs looking after all the young chefs and willing to provide opportunities.“
Resources to plan your next steps
Visit our accommodation and food services industry profile to find out about:
- what it’s like to work in accommodation and food services, and some of the jobs you could do
- training and skills to work in the industry, and financial assistance to help pay for your course
- help getting a job in accommodation and food services, and industry job forecasts for Victoria
- other free resources and advice to plan your training and career.
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