Silver servers on the rise, as over-50s join hospitality

Growing numbers of workers over the age of 50 are taking on jobs in the UK’s pubs, restaurants and hotels in order to boost their retirement income.

The combination of the sector’s labour shortage and the rising cost of living has prompted a shift in the workforce at many pubs and bars.

According to the latest caterer.com Hospitality Hiring Insider, which analyses job advert data and the views of hundreds of hospitality professionals, more than 130,000 over-50s are working in the sector to boost pension savings, with hospitality employers seeing a surge in applications from this demographic.

A shift in the workforce

Despite the influx of 'silver servers', hospitality in the UK continues to be challenged by a shrinking talent pool, with the jobs website reporting that some 200,000 international workers have left the sector since 2019.

As a result, hospitality businesses are actively hiring from less traditional talent pools, and a quarter of employers believe workers over 50 will be important in helping to solve the sector’s labour shortage.

The research suggests that the cost-of-living crisis is a key motivator in tempting over-50s into the sector and the majority (70%) of hospitality employers note that cost-of-living crisis is driving more people aged over 50 to boost their income by working in hospitality.

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