Murcia restaurants and bars struggle to find staff for the summer season

Employers warn they are being forced to recruit inexperienced workers and train them on the job to cope

The hospitality sector in the Region of Murcia is heading into the summer season facing a growing shortage of qualified workers, as employers warn that the situation is becoming harder to manage each year.

The regional hospitality and tourism federation HoyTú says businesses are struggling to find trained staff, meaning many are having to bring in inexperienced workers and train them quickly on the job just to keep up with demand.

With the busy summer months just around the corner, the worry is whether the entire hospitality sector will have enough staff overall to cope. According to HoyTú, some new recruits are being given just a few days of basic training before starting work. It is far from ideal, but employers say it has become the only realistic way to keep operations running.

The sector estimates that thousands of additional workers are needed urgently. A Randstad report also suggests that around 22,000 contracts could be created in Murcia over the summer, with hospitality and food service making up a large share of those jobs.

What's Driving the Shortage?

There isn't one single reason behind the shortage, but rather a combination of factors that are all adding pressure at once.

One of the biggest issues is simply the lack of trained workers coming through the system, leaving businesses short of people with the right experience.

Working conditions also play a big role. Hospitality jobs often mean long hours, weekend and holiday shifts, and physically demanding work. In Murcia, the intense summer heat and humidity only add to that pressure, especially for those working in kitchens, outdoors or on busy terraces.

Pay is another sticking point, particularly at entry level, where wages are low, especially for the workload and hours involved. This has led to high turnover, with staff moving on quickly after short periods in the job.

At the same time, employers say younger people are increasingly turning away from hospitality and towards digital careers like social media, content creation, and influencer-style roles, which they see as a better use of their time, with the potential to earn the same or more while working on their own schedule and in far better conditions.

To try and tackle the problem, HoyTú is backing the expansion of intensive Dual Vocational Training (FP Dual), working alongside the regional government and education centres. FP Dual is a Spanish training system that mixes classroom learning with real work experience in businesses. Students don’t just study in the classroom, they also spend time working in companies while they are still training, giving them practical experience before they enter the job market.

Around 70 businesses in the Region are already involved, with students combining classroom learning with weekly placements. The scheme also includes paid training contracts, which officials hope will make the sector more attractive and help retain staff in the long run. 

That said, there is also an argument that if young people are putting time into studying and training for these roles, the sector will need to offer better pay and conditions to really make it worthwhile.

See also:Bizum starts arriving in Spanish shops and restaurants

Images: Archive