Psychological aspects of labour supply in the Gozo catering sector

Abstract

Tourism in Gozo is a strong generator of the demand for local goods and services. This has to be strongly backed up by a solid labour supply side. One of the most important sectors within the tourism industry in Gozo is the catering sector. People working within this sector engage in direct contact with the tourists frequently and play a major role in shaping out how the tourists experience the island. This sector is strongly characterized by long, irregular working hours and problems resulting from the seasonality issues that this island faces. By focusing on catering establishments that are independent from larger establishments, this dissertation explores the issues and motivational factors that affect labour supply in this sector. What is attracting people to work in the Gozo catering sector, while on the other hand, what is pushing them away? What inspires people to pursue a life-time career in this sector and what deters others from doing so? The aim of this dissertation was to explore in detail the factors, issues and reasons that affect the motivation to work in this sector, give a clear picture of the way in which it is perceived by the people involved and then put forward proposals and recommendations on how to foster positive motivations towards work in this sector. A series of interviews were conducted with the main stakeholders and a number of workers and ex-workers within this sector. It resulted that all those involved are conscious of how important tourism is for Gozo and the strategic role the catering sector plays in this industry. The findings show that people working in this sector are affected by issues such as seasonality, training conducted, working hours, career opportunities, job security and wages which are reflected in their type of motivat