THE hospitality industry is employing fewer staff and sometimes paying lower wages than it was a year ago, according to a survey of job vacancies and salaries.

A total of 5,652 jobs were advertised in the sector during May, a drop of 17.4% from the 6,842 jobs advertised in the same month last year.

Although salaries have increased slightly for most jobs, the report shows companies are offering less money for key managerial positions.

Restaurant managers' salaries, at £18,056, were down from the £18,786 average last year. Catering managers were offered £17,500 compared with £18,073 while food and beverage managers' salaries dipped from £17,706 last year to £16,900 in May.

Despite the skills shortage, head chefs saw their wages rise just £200 to £20,117. Head chefs' jobs in southern England and Scotland offered the highest salaries, of £20,720 and £20,700 respectively. In inner London, jobs advertised for head chefs offered an average salary of £20,650. The average salary offered for sous chefs remained almost static at £17,548.

Hotel managers gained the biggest rise with an average salary of £27,794 compared with £24,779 advertised last May.

The statistics, from Salary Survey Publications, are compiled from recruitment advertisements in Caterer & Hotelkeeper, the Bristol Evening Post, the Publican, the Birmingham Evening Mail, London's Evening Standard, the Manchester Evening News and the Licensee and Morning Advertiser.

by Christina Golding