Greece is projected to face the world’s second-largest labor shortage in the tourism industry over the next decade, with an estimated 290,000 positions likely to remain unfilled, according to a new report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
The report, unveiled at the WTTC’s World Tourism Conference in Rome, was developed in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, Coraggio Group, Miles Partnership, and the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong. It analyzed workforce trends across 20 major economies, highlighting looming labor gaps despite the sector’s post-pandemic recovery.
The WTTC said that while global tourism has rebounded strongly, long-term demographic and structural challenges — including aging populations and slower workforce growth — threaten to leave millions of roles vacant. The sector is expanding faster than the global economy, intensifying pressure on labor markets.
In 2024, the travel and tourism industry supported a record 357 million jobs worldwide and is expected to reach 371 million this year. Over the next decade, the industry is forecast to add 91 million new jobs, equivalent to one in every three new positions created globally.
However, by 2035, the global shortfall in tourism workers could exceed 43 million, leaving available labor 16% below demand, the report said.
Japan is expected to face the largest gap, with a 29% shortfall, followed by Greece at 27% and Germany at 26%.
The WTTC urged governments and businesses to address workforce challenges through training, technology adoption, and labor mobility policies to sustain the industry’s growth trajectory.