Negative views about hotel work may be pushing many hospitality graduates in China to choose careers in other industries, according to new research.
The study, published in the International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, examined the experiences of more than 300 Chinese hotel interns.
Researchers wanted to understand how attitudes toward hotel jobs influence whether young graduates see themselves building a long-term career in the hospitality industry.
The findings point to an important problem: occupational stigma.
Occupational stigma occurs when a job or profession is viewed as having low social status, poor working conditions or limited career value.
The researchers found that interns who held stronger negative views about hotel work were less likely to develop a strong professional identity connected to the hospitality industry.
In simple terms, if graduates did not feel proud or positive about working in hotels, they were much less likely to see hotel work as part of their future.
This could be a significant challenge for China’s large hotel industry, which depends on having a reliable supply of trained workers. Although universities and colleges produce many graduates in hospitality and tourism, estimates suggest that only around 10% to 20% eventually enter the industry.
Internships are supposed to help close this gap by giving students practical experience and introducing them to possible careers. However, the new research suggests that internships do not always have the intended effect.
For some students, their experience as hotel interns may actually strengthen existing negative attitudes toward the industry. If interns encounter work that they consider low-status or unattractive, they may decide to leave hospitality before their careers have even properly begun.
The researchers also identified a factor that could help protect young workers from these negative perceptions: stronger vocational skills.
Interns who had developed additional practical and professional skills appeared to be less affected by the stigma surrounding hotel work. Having useful skills may give graduates greater confidence in their abilities and help them develop a stronger sense of themselves as hospitality professionals.
This suggests that better practical training and professional certification could help hotels attract and retain young employees. Training may also show graduates that hospitality work involves specialized knowledge and offers opportunities for professional development.
The findings highlight a broader challenge for employers. Recruiting graduates is not simply about offering available positions. How young people view the status, value and future prospects of a profession can strongly influence whether they want to remain in it.
For China’s hotel industry, improving internships, strengthening professional training and changing perceptions of hospitality work could therefore be important steps toward keeping more trained graduates in the sector.
