Career development and turnover in the Hospitality Industry: Portraying job moves and career trajectories

Abstract

Retaining valuable and qualified employees has become increasingly challenging in light of labour shortages, workforce demographic shifts and modern career concepts based on increased mobility and short-term transactional relationships between the employer and the employee. The concept of career is central in human resources management. However, it is a poorly studied phenomenon in tourism and hospitality, as there is still little information on how jobs develop into careers. This chapter provides insights into career development and turnover in the dynamic tourism and hospitality industry and explores this industry’s career trajectories and job changes. Career trajectories are analysed in the light of contemporary career perspectives, such as protean and boundaryless careers, and factors contributing to voluntary turnover are examined, highlighting the locus of initiative and motives for job and career moves. Challenges of turnover management and the need for structured career opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industry are addressed.