Front of house employees to gain most from new national living wage amid widespread pay rises for kitchen roles

Out of all hospitality staff, Front of House workers will benefit from the new national living wage as their hourly rate is increased in line with back of house co-workers. 

According to figures from hospitality software provider Fourth, the new National Living Wage (NLW) rates, which legally rose from £8.91 to £9.50 an hour on April 1st 2022 - a rise of 6.6 percent - will benefit front of house staff as the proportion of EU workers has fallen to its lowest level since 2019.

While a positive turn of events for employees in the sector, this will without a doubt put a further squeeze on businesses as they accommodate the new rates.

Pub wages have seen the biggest increase, front and back of house

Those employed in the kitchen typically earn above the new NLW of £9.50 per hour, which came in on April 1st. However, those working in front of house roles have to date been paid significantly below the new rates.

Fourth's data comes from the analysis of more than 700 companies and reveals that wages for chefs and other back of house roles have increased significantly over the last 12 months due to the ongoing recruitment crisis.

The data shows that those working in pub kitchens have seen the biggest rise, with their pay rising by 6.8 percent over the past year. For those working in restaurant kitchens, the increase has been by 3.7 percent.

The analysis also shows that over the last 12 months, pub workers' rate of pay has increased by 4.9 percent, while restaurant workers' pay has increased by 2.9 percent on average.

Overall, hospitality worker numbers are up by 27 percent on March 2021, still a decrease of 12 percent on March 2020 and of 15 percent compared to March 2019.

Demographics

Currently, 55 percent of hospitality professionals are British, 28 percent are from the EU workers and 17 percent are non-EU workers.

Undoubtedly due to both coronavirus and Brexit, restaurants have seen the biggest change, as Britons now make up 52 percent of staff compared to 41 percent in March last year. EU workers currently only make up 31 percent, a significant decrease from 47 percent last year.