Tourism Workforce Trends in Europe: Employment Patterns, Regulation, and Recovery

Tourism is a major contributor to European employment, yet the sector is characterized by part-time work, seasonal fluctuations, informal employment, and gender disparities. This paper synthesizes recent empirical evidence and numerical data from Eurostat, OECD, and national case studies in Poland, Greece, and Italy to examine post-pandemic tourism labour market trends. Findings show that while tourism creates substantial employment—including spillover jobs in retail and transport—vulnerabilities persist, particularly for informal and female workers. For example, in Greece, 12–15% of tourism jobs are informal, while in Poland, employment dropped 28% during the COVID-19 pandemic, later recovering to ~90% of pre-pandemic levels. The analysis also highlights the role of labour market regulations, workforce sustainability, and skills development in shaping employment outcomes. Policy recommendations focus on balancing flexibility with security, promoting gender equity, supporting workforce development, and utilizing data-driven monitoring. The paper concludes that tourism employment can evolve from a source of vulnerability into a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable sector, provided that regulatory, social, and training interventions are effectively implemented.