What it’s like to work in accommodation and food services
Find out what to expect day-to-day, what people love about the work and how much you can earn.
On this page
- What people love about working in accommodation and food services
- Where you can work
- Job demand in Victoria
- Career success stories
- Resources to plan your next steps
- Explore growing industries in your region
The accommodation and food services industry is dynamic and fast paced. Over half its workforce is between the ages of 15 and 29. It’s also expanding. A thriving ‘foodie’ scene as well as changing consumer habits are creating more and more jobs.
What people love about working in accommodation and food services
Here are some of the benefits of working in accommodation and food services:
- Excellent prospects for a range of roles in the industry. There are many ways to grow. You could start as a waiter, become an assistant manager and then become a venue manager.
- The work is flexible so you can tailor your workload to suit your needs. There are opportunities for part-time, casual, full-time and shift work.
- Skills like customer service, time management and budgeting are transferable across jobs, disciplines and industries.
- There are opportunities to learn on the job and try the work before choosing it as a career.
Where you can work
The accommodation and food services industry has a wide range of employers. For example, you could work for a large organisation such as a large events and accommodation venue, through to a small coffee business.
The kinds of food and accommodation settings you could work in include:
- hotels and motels
- bars
- restaurants
- cafés
- take-away shops
- caterers
- events or gaming venues.
Job demand in Victoria
Below are the employment projections for the accommodation and food services industry in Victoria. Figures show the number of workers in 2024 and the new workers expected to enter the workforce by 2027 and 2034.
‘New workers expected’ accounts for workers adding new jobs to the economy and replacing retirees over the next 3 and 10 years. These projections are estimates only. There will be additional jobs available as people move between jobs and industries.
| Region | Workers 2024 | New workers expected by 2027 | New workers expected by 2034 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 231,344 | 16,270 | 76,215 |
| Melbourne – inner metropolitan | 42,039 | 3,663 | 15,230 |
| Melbourne – inner south-east metropolitan | 20,484 | 1,046 | 5,259 |
| Melbourne – southern metropolitan | 30,439 | 1,691 | 8,886 |
| Melbourne – northern metropolitan | 26,331 | 2,073 | 10,097 |
| Melbourne – eastern metropolitan | 27,013 | 1,292 | 7,224 |
| Melbourne – western metropolitan | 24,810 | 2,535 | 11,216 |
| Ballarat and surrounds (Central Highlands) | 7,188 | 477 | 2,312 |
| Bendigo, Echuca and surrounds (Loddon Campaspe) | 8,767 | 625 | 2,699 |
| Geelong, Colac and surrounds (Barwon) | 14,438 | 1,092 | 5,275 |
| Gippsland | 10,611 | 735 | 3,121 |
| Horsham and surrounds (Wimmera Southern Mallee) | 1,543 | 59 | 348 |
| Mildura, Swan Hill and surrounds (Mallee) | 3,229 | 112 | 684 |
| Shepparton, Seymour and surrounds (Goulburn) | 4,180 | 275 | 1,140 |
| Wangaratta, Wodonga and surrounds (Ovens Murray) | 6,152 | 425 | 1,791 |
| Warrnambool, Hamilton and surrounds (Great South Coast) | 4,120 | 169 | 933 |
Source: Victorian Skills Authority Employment Projections Dashboard
Career success stories
Leela savours success as a junior sous chef
”I found a supportive community with my peers and teachers. They played an important role in refining my culinary skills. Chefs are one of the most in-demand jobs, so there’s lots of opportunity.“
From coffee to classrooms: Brett’s TAFE teaching journey
“If you are passionate about representing your industry and helping others, TAFE teaching can be a great path. I’ve got students who have been a truck driver for 30 years, or an arborist or nurse.“
Pivot in the pandemic: Sanny’s journey into a commercial kitchen
“I chose to get formal training because I knew it would open doors for me to apply for jobs. There are a lot of senior chefs looking after all the young chefs and willing to provide opportunities.“
Resources to plan your next steps
Visit our accommodation and food services industry profile to find out about:
- what it’s like to work in accommodation and food services, and some of the jobs you could do
- training and skills to work in the industry, and financial assistance to help pay for your course
- help getting a job in accommodation and food services, and industry job projections for Victoria
- other free resources and advice to plan your training and career.
Explore growing industries in your region
Training and careers in your region
Explore training, skills and job opportunities in your area of Victoria. Find out where you could work, what kind of job you could do, and what training you’ll need.
Training and careers in growing industries
Learn about high demand industries in Victoria. Find out where you could work, what kind of jobs you could do, and what training you’ll need.
Updated 11 December 2024
About the VIC Government
- The Premier and ministers
- Find a Vic Gov department, agency or service
- Strategies and policies
- Inquiries and royal commissions
Grants and programs
Jobs and careers
Arts, culture and heritage
Business and the workplace
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework
- Portable Long Service Authority
- Victoria’s racing industry
- Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
- Liquor licensing, sale and supply
Communities
- Children
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Finding records
- Gender equality & women’s leadership
- LGBTIQA+ equality
- Multicultural communities
- Seniors Online
- Veterans support and commemoration
- Volunteering in Victoria
- Youth Central
Education and training
- Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
- Early childhood education – information for professionals
- Kinder: Best Start, Best Life
- Education – information for parents
- Schools.Vic - information for schools
- Education grants, programs, awards and events
- PROTECT
- TAFE, training and universities sector
- TAFE Victoria
- Victorian Skills Authority
- Apprenticeships Victoria
- Learn Local
Environment, water and energy
Finance and economy
Health and social support
- Family violence reform
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- NDIS and disability services and support in Victoria
- Patient Review Panel
- Transforming Trauma Victoria
Housing and property
Law and justice
- Adoption
- Births, deaths and marriages
- Honorary justices
- Machete ban
- Safeguarding Victorians against terrorism
- Stolen Generations Reparations Package
- Victims of Crime
- Victorian Racing Tribunal
Safety and emergencies
- Emergency Recovery Victoria
- Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation
- Emergency Recovery Resource Portal
- How well do you know fire
- Fire Services Reform
- Water safety
- Marine Search and Rescue
Science and technology
- Data sharing and open data
- Data.vic - discover and access Vic Gov open data
- Developer.Vic - portal for API developers
- Go.vic URL shortener
- Vic Gov IT project dashboard
- Victoria’s free public wi-fi network
- Cyber security in the Victorian Government
Sport and recreation
Traffic and transport
- Cameras Save Lives
- Transport Fines
- Getting Around
- Transport Planning
- Transport Future
- Climate Change and transport
- Future Directions For Transport
- Transport projects
- Ports and Freight
Working in the Victorian Government
- Single Digital Presence home
- Accommodation and Library Services
- Executive employment in the Victorian public sector
- Budget, procurement and funding
- Careers in the Victorian Government
- Council and Regulator Toolkit
- Guidelines for working in government
- Join a government network
- Standards and guidelines
- VicFleet CarPool
- Victorian Government style guide