By Kavita Mistry 
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched a landmark report at its 25th Global Summit in Rome, warning that while the sector is poised to generate 91 million new jobs globally by 2035, demographic and structural shifts could leave a shortfall of more than 43 million workers if urgent workforce planning is not addressed.
The report, Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce, developed with the support of the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Coraggio Group, Miles Partnership, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, draws on extensive global research, including surveys of business leaders and interviews with WTTC members and stakeholders across 20 major economies. It underlines the scale of both opportunity and risk in one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors.
Travel and tourism supported a record 357 million jobs worldwide in 2024, with the number forecast to rise to 371 million in 2025. Over the next decade, the sector is expected to account for one in every three net new jobs created globally. Yet by 2035, demand for labour will exceed supply by 43 million, leaving staffing levels 16 per cent below what is required.
The report shows that hospitality faces the sharpest gap, with a shortfall of 8.6 million workers – equivalent to 18 per cent of the staff needed. Low-skilled roles, which remain critical to the sector and cannot easily be automated, will be in highest demand, requiring more than 20 million additional workers worldwide.
Among the 20 economies studied, the largest absolute workforce shortages are projected in China (16.9 million), India (11 million), and the European Union (6.4 million). In relative terms, Japan faces the most acute gap, with its workforce supply forecast to fall 29 per cent short of demand, followed by Greece (27 per cent) and Germany (26 per cent).
Despite these challenges, WTTC stressed that travel and tourism remains unmatched in its potential for job creation and economic development. Gloria Guevara, WTTC Interim CEO, said: “Travel and tourism is set to remain one of the world’s biggest job creators, offering opportunities for millions. But we must also recognise that wider demographic and structural changes are reshaping labour markets everywhere. This report is a call to action. By working with governments and educators, our sector can reduce this gap and unlock the potential of our people for generations to come.”
His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, added: “By 2035, one in three new jobs will come from travel and tourism – no other sector can claim that. Saudi Arabia is already showing what vision and investment can achieve, with more than 649,000 training opportunities created and a workforce that is nearly 50 per cent women.”
Sara Meaney, Managing Partner at Coraggio Group, noted that the report should be seen as a catalyst for rethinking how the sector attracts and retains talent. “It will require investment and intention to design jobs that inspire, support careers that evolve, and workplaces that reflect the values of today’s workforce. This is our chance to redefine what it means to work in travel and tourism,” she said.
The report calls for a multi-pronged approach to build a future-ready workforce: inspiring young people with the diversity of career opportunities in the sector; aligning training with industry needs; investing in digital literacy, artificial intelligence, and sustainable practices; and implementing policies that reduce barriers to recruitment and improve job retention.
WTTC underlined that collaboration between governments, educators, and industry stakeholders will be critical. With proactive planning, the organisation believes travel and tourism can not only fill the projected gap but also continue to drive innovation, prosperity, and opportunity for communities worldwide.
The Rome summit, which is being hosted in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, ENIT (the Italian national tourist board), the Municipality of Rome, and the Lazio Region, has placed workforce planning at the centre of global tourism’s future agenda.
