Working in hospitality actually costs you nearly £4,000 per year

The average hospitality professional spends £320 a month on work-related expenses, including lunch, commuting and stationary, according to new figures.

While the majority (84.6%) of hospitality professionals are careful to factor these expenses into their monthly budget, the sector was one of the most expensive to work in in the UK, according to a survey carried out by CV Library last month.

Hospitality professionals were asked to reveal the work-related costs they pay out each month. The average worker spends roughly £320 per month on extras, coming out at £3,840 per year.

Unsurprisingly, commuting/travel topped the list (76%), followed by lunch (52%), clothes/uniform (36%), gifts for colleagues (32%) and work social events (24%. Perhaps surprisingly, one in five respondents said they believed paying for these extras were their own responsibility, rather than their employer’s.

Lee Biggins, CEO of CV Library, however, said that on the whole, “professionals want their employers to cover some of these costs, though if they’re offering a competitive enough salary, this should cover a number of these expenses anyway.

“Some costs such as travel can be unavoidable, but professionals must also be frugal.”

The news comes as a average salary offers within the industry have risen sharply in recent months amidst a shortage of applicants.

Around 330,000 staff currently working in the UK hospitality industry are considering leaving the UK due to Brexit, which could result in a severe shortage of staff, according to the findings of a YouGov survey published in June.