There is no immediate relief in sight for the labor shortage in the tourism industry, as education is not gaining traction. For example, in Rovaniemi, instead of the usual two groups, one small group started.
The uncertainty of the tourism industry came to the fore with the pandemic, when hotels and restaurants were closed in the middle of the boom. From the speed of a hundred to the wall, the situation in Lapland was described at that time.
In addition to the loss of employees, the consequences of the turbulence can be seen as a drop in the number of applicants for tourism education. While in 2018 there were almost 700 primary applicants for the joint application for the bachelor’s degree in tourism, this year there were around 450 of them.
In Rovaniemi, the drop was even steeper.
Even at Espoo Omni, the number of primary applicants for the joint application fell by almost half, at Turku Vocational Institute, on the other hand, there was only a slight decrease. The number of adult students coming through the continuous search has also decreased, although not as sharply as the number of young people thinking about their first profession.
– The decision was left to the last straw, the joint search was about to expire and we had to find a field. Different fields were presented at the school and that’s why the field of tourism rose above the others.
Rissanen’s interest was piqued by the idea of work close to people, where no two days are the same.
Tourism is said to be interesting, but it does not appear in the search statistics
– The industry needs educated people. Sure, some jobs are such that you can get by without training, but yes, training is very important.
The organization has established \”attraction working groups\” in different parts of Finland to think about, for example, how to attract high school students to the field. Lappi states that the tourism industry has always done well in surveys of young people.
– But we have to work so that people actually go into this field.
Having experienced the loss of students, Rovaniemi Redu is now looking for tourism students from abroad together with a few companies in the field, such as Scandic and Lapland Hotels. Companies advertise training in connection with their recruitment. Those participating in the English-language apprenticeship starting in November are already filling the labor shortage during the Christmas season.
Intensive training in English for the first time
Scandic’s two hotels in Rovaniemi, Pohjanhov and Polari, have apprenticeship positions in the reception, kitchen and restaurant.
Students are at work during the busiest weeks and at school when it is quieter. The companies are also involved in planning the contents of the training.
Branch manager Maarit Vilppunen is satisfied that Redu received the permission to organize English-language training in the tourism and restaurant industry. Even in the restaurant sector, a third of the applicants lost during the pandemic years.
– The purpose of the training is to support the Lapland tourism industry in overcoming the labor shortage. With the help of training, it is possible for those coming from abroad to build longer careers and not just come for the season, Vilppunen says.
If the pilot goes well, a sequel will follow. At the same time, hotels, restaurants and safari companies continue to search for employees with a low threshold, they cannot afford to demand education now. Sandgren says that in the end the most important thing is attitude and the desire to learn.
– If such a good service attitude can be found, then we will definitely be trained and introduced, even if we don’t have a degree.
From the cabin of the truck to the fell
Ronja Rissanen, who studied the days of the month, thinks that it would be nice to work in a hotel reception as well as as a tour guide. Ideally, he would see himself abroad or in Lapland.
– Of course, the uncertainty of the industry sometimes crosses your mind, but you have to think positively. Of course, you never know the situation in the world, but one day at a time.
Heininen, who enjoys nature, hopes that he will be able to guide small groups after graduation.
– Not necessarily a huge mass or a conveyor belt. Even being present in a small group is different.
Heininen thinks that he could work in winters in the fells and summers in more southern Finland. Norway is also attractive.
– There are so many options in this field that you will definitely get a job. It doesn’t worry at all.
_What thoughts did the story evoke? You can participate in the discussion with Yle Tunnus 1.9. until 11 p.m._