Career exploration among hospitality workers during the COVID-19 pandemic – insights for future

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to analyse the career exploration trends among hospitality employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, gain insights into the labour shortages, and provide implications for the future of the hospitality industry’s workforce. The pandemic decimated local, national, and international mobility, decimating the hospitality industry. All the hospitality organizations downsized, furloughed and/or reduced the compensation of their employees to keep up with turbulent times. Post-pandemic, the hospitality industry is ready to rehire the employees that were laid off or furloughed during the pandemic. However, the employees have not returned, and the industry is undergoing chronic labour shortages. Using the tenets of the career exploration theory, we collected data from 198 individuals who were/are employed in the hospitality industry about their career exploration tendencies during the pandemic. The results showed heightened levels of career exploration within and outside the hospitality industry; it is imperative that HRD practitioners should respond to the changing needs of hospitality industry employees. The study contributes to the lifespan approach to career exploration by highlighting self-exploration and environmental exploration by hospitality industry employees during the pandemic irrespective of demographic differences.