Tourism is expected to put pressure on the labor force

The sector’s employment needs are expected to grow by 24% in just five years

CASPER — Ski weekends in the Snowy Range. Deer hunting in the Red Desert. Road tripping through America’s first national park.

Travel and tourism are growing throughout Wyoming, and it’s making the state a pretty penny. According to a report from the University of Wyoming, travelers spent $4.5 billion in Wyoming in 2023, moving the Cowboy State’s travel industry to second in industry.

But there’s a problem: the industry’s demand for skilled workers may not be met.

“This sector is really forecast to grow substantially. And the concern this report raises is that there is a need for more students and skilled workers to serve these various industries,” said Dan McCoy, interim director of the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Tourism and Hospitality Initiative, a state-chartered partnership.

Travel spending has supported more than 33,000 local jobs, and industry experts and local businesses say it can support many more as the sector’s employment needs are expected to increase by 24% over the next five years, driving growth across all other job sectors in the world are overshadowed. stands.

The report, which is based on state and federal data and local business surveys, finds that the number of skilled workers emerging from relevant training and education programs is lagging behind industry needs, limiting the potential of America’s second-largest economy Wyoming could limit.

Some labor market challenges may stem from the perception that the sector is limited to entry-level jobs with little room for upward mobility.

McCoy says this is a misconception, and as the industry matures, it welcomes a growing number of stable and salaried positions.

“There are a lot of entry-level jobs in the tourism and hospitality industries, but you can make progress in those areas with more training and workforce development,” he said. “This report shows that there are many opportunities like this across the state, the kinds of things that will help employees move into management and supervisory positions with higher paying positions that provide career paths and pathways to be successful in this field. ”

The report notes that sector-specific programs offered by the state’s universities and colleges experienced low enrollment and graduation rates. In 2023, the relevant programs produced 130 graduates, with a total enrollment of less than 200.

“It is a concern that we need to enroll these programs to meet the needs of the future,” McCoy said.

McCoy believes the problem can be easily solved, and that with the right marketing, career seekers will find their way to the programs that are brand new in themselves.

In partnership with Governor Mark Gordon’s Wyoming Innovation Partnership, McCoy and WORTH are working to strengthen the career pipeline through collaboration with the state’s universities and colleges, where new programs and initiatives hope to train and deliver a new generation of skilled workers for a multi- sectoral sector. faceted industry considered essential to the state’s long-term financial health.

The University of Wyoming launched a new hospitality focus this year, while Sheridan College opened a series of related industry-specific workforce training programs.

“Our report highlights the need for strategic investments in education and workforce development to keep pace with industry demands,” said McCoy.

This story was published on May 7, 2024.