Algarve Hotels Face Labor Shortage, Seek 8,000 Moroccan Workers

According to a study entitled "O capital humano na hotelaria e empreendimentos turísticos do Algarve" (Human capital in the hotels and tourist developments of the Algarve), commissioned by the Association of Hotel and Tourism Companies of the Algarve (AHETA) and carried out by the University of the Algarve through the Collaborative Laboratory for Tourism and Innovation (KIPt COLAB), the sector needs nearly 8,000 additional workers. "The human resource needs vary between 4,484 and 7,906 by the end of 2023, in the companies surveyed," the study report states.

According to the authors of the report, the AHETA members currently have around 17,000 employees. This number is expected to increase by 30%, but the sector is facing a labor shortage, which is partly explained by recruitment difficulties. "Recruitment difficulties are evident, particularly in the more operational areas, such as food and beverage, accommodation and maintenance," said researcher and professor Antónia Correia during the presentation of the study’s findings.

To address this shortage, AHETA is calling on the Portuguese government to accelerate the decision on the establishment of a protocol for the free movement of workers for the sector with the Portuguese-speaking countries, Morocco and India.