Most hospitality workers are confident they will receive a salary increase in the next 12 months, thanks to optimistic employers nation-wide.

The annual Hospitality Recruitment Salary Guide by Frontline Recruitment has provided its overview of the latest recruitment trends and salary information in Australia’s foodservice sector, saying most employers indicated business had increased in the past year and would likely improve further in the next 12 months.

Because of this confidence, almost 80 per cent of employers surveyed said they would give staff a pay rise in the next year, with the lucky candidates likely to receive a rise of up to 6 per cent. On the other hand, less than half of hospitality employers indicated they will offer up a bonus as part of the remuneration package for good workers.

If you’re wondering where the money is, the research indicated pastry chefs in major cities working in restaurants were receiving between $50,000 to $60,000, with those in Sydney earning slightly more, up to $70,000. But a pastry chef position in a Chefs Hat establishment is the place to be, with those in Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney earning up to $70,000. Café baristas, as a point of comparison, topped out at $55,000.

Here’s a state-by-state analysis of how the hospitality sector is faring:

BRISBANE:
Due to an increase in consumer confidence, the hospitality industry in Brisbane has experienced strong growth in recent years, with new venues cropping up all around town. Better yet, both major hospitality groups and small business owners are looking to expand their portfolio. There has also been a surge in the informal dining scene.

CANBERRA:
The past 12 months has seen the opening of many new high profile venues in the Canberra market. The shortage of talent has significantly driven up salary expectations, as candidates are able to negotiate multiple offers. This, combined with low consumer confidence and media coverage of potential local job cuts, has affected candidate mobility.

MELBOURNE:
Food and beverage businesses have opened and successful groups have expanded with new outlets, which have introduced a range of job opportunities in the Melbourne hospitality market. Not surprisingly, candidates are being encouraged to seek new career paths in hospitality, particularly in the casual dining, café and bakery-café scene. Because of the opportunity available, middle-to-lower level chefs are not committing to long-term roles.

PERTH:
The hospitality market in Perth has slowed in the past 12 months, due to the downturn in mining. One of the main challenges the industry faces is high quality candidates are being snapped up quickly, and the overall standard of candidates is low.

SYDNEY:
Looking back at the past year, Sydney has seen many changes in the hospitality industry. There are lots of new players – particuarly openings in the small bar market – and a large amount of attrition, with fewer players owning a bigger slice of the market overall. The amount of movement has increased the job listings in Sydney, but the industry still has a major shortage of candidates.