Transformations  in
Business & Economics

THE PERCEPTION OF ROMANIAN STUDENTS AND GRADUATES OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY PROGRAMMES REGARDING THE LABOUR MARKET AND THEIR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT
Monica Maria Coros, Nicoleta Dorina Racolta Paina, Ana Monica Pop, Cristina Bolog, Bogdan Gabriel Nistoreanu

ABSTRACT. The challenges in the hospitality industry, from a human resource perspective, are becoming more and more complex. Therefore, in the case of the Romanian hospitality market, the presence of foreign workers, respectively the perception of students and graduates of tourism and hospitality programs regarding this sector add to the already established challenges. This study is based on a combination of documentary research (as to the analysis of the presence of foreign workers) and research based on questionnaire-assisted survey (the sample consisting of students and graduates of tourism and hospitality programs). The main results indicate a challenging situation from the perspective of human resources in the tourism and hospitality industry in Romania, given the inhomogeneous workforce and unrealistic expectations for a future career in the field, revealing the high intention to quit the job, mainly for a higher salary, respectively the low attractiveness of the jobs available in this sector. Thus, current employers still face a complex decision in approaching the human resource as an investment or expense, a key issue in the case of an industry that is heavily dependent on labour and on skilled employees .

KEYWORDS:  Romanian hospitality and tourism industry, students and graduates of tourism and hospitality programmes, specialised personnel, remuneration, motivation and loyalty.

JEL classification:  Q01, Q56, L83, Z32, C46, O15, J24.