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An estimated 136,000 new jobs in the hotel sector will be created in Africa this year, according to new research.
A further 87,000 will be added in 2015, 70,000 in 2016 and 27,000 thereafter based on current signed contracts from international brands plus regional brands and non-branded developments to come.
Further jobs will be added to these totals as new deals are signed by the brands and others, according to the study by consultancy W Hospitality Group, which specialises in the hotel business in Africa.
However, growth in demand for hotel workers varies substantially from country to country.
Regionally the numbers are similar, with North Africa creating 115,000 jobs across five countries and Sub Saharan Africa creating 165,000 across 23 countries.
The five North African countries are in the top 10 in Africa, while Nigeria leads the way in Sub Saharan Africa with the creation of 53,000 jobs. It is followed by Ghana with 11,000, Angola with 9,000, Ethiopia with 8,800 and Uganda with 8,500.
W Hospitality managing director Trevor Ward said: “The main reasons for the slower growth in North Africa include the opening of hotels in the 2012 pipeline, particularly in Algeria, a reduced investment focus on North Africa due to political concerns and a greater emphasis on development in sub-Saharan markets.
“Nevertheless, by comparison with the developed economies, where growth rates are struggling to exceed 2%, Africa is positively booming, and in an industry which is as labour intensive as hotels that is very good news for job creation.”
The companies leading the way are Hilton Worldwide, which W Hospitality Group estimates will have a need for 10,000 new workers, Accor for 6,000, Carlson Rezidor for 5,500 and Starwood and Marriott for 4,000 each.
Ward added: “It is very good for the hospitality sector that so many major international brands are blazing a trail, because they will bring a requirement to meet international service standards.”