Employment in the Catering and Tourist Accommodation Sectors Reach Historic Highs

8 November 2017

The Catering and Beverages and Tourist Accommodation sectors accounted for 345,900 jobs at the end of the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 53,000 new jobs, rising 18% over the same period of the previous year.

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) released today, the Catering and Beverages and Tourist Accommodation sectors accounted for 345,900 jobs at the end of the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 53,000 new jobs, rising 18% over the same period of the previous year.

The third quarter of 2017 saw employment in the HORECA (hotels, restaurants and catering) sector reach new highs, with a total of 345,900 jobs, up from 292,900 jobs in the same period last year (3rd quarter 2016).

The 53,000 additional jobs accounted for 37.4% of the creation of new jobs for all of Portugal in the third quarter of 2017. The catering sector alone created 44,600 new jobs (+19.9%), and the Tourist Accommodation sector created another 8,400 (+12.3%).

The Portuguese Hotel and Catering Association (AHRESP), commenting on the data, emphasised that “they show the commitment assumed by the sector in the net growth in employment”. This creation, says Mário Pereira Gonçalves, president of the association, has been especially apparent, “since July 1, 2016, with the partial replacement of the VAT Food and Beverage Services rate.”

Original Story: Jornal Econômico – Sónia Bexiga

Translation: Richard Turner