Employment Outlook

The employment outlook will be moderate for Food and beverage servers (65200) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
• High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.
• Due to the seasonal nature of this occupation, employment opportunities tend to be more favourable during the summer months.

Following a strong post-pandemic recovery in 2022, the Island’s tourism sector experienced another solid season in 2023 with considerable gains in tourist traffic (particularly by way of the Confederation Bridge and air). Furthermore, the Island welcomed a record number of cruise ships in 2023 which generated significant economic spin-offs in the sector. Tourism activity is expected to be favourable over the forecast period, however, risk factors such as elevated prices and high interest rates may temper growth.

Job opportunities may also come from vacancies as a result of former workers having changed career paths as many were laid off or had their hours significantly reduced due to the pandemic. 

Risk factors that could soften employment demand in this occupation include elevated prices and high interest rates, which could reduce consumer spending on non-essential goods and services. 

There is some seasonality in this occupation with job prospects better during the spring to summer months. Food and beverage servers may be required to work various shifts including evenings, weekends and holidays, so flexibility is an asset. This occupation is a good source of employment opportunities for students during the busy tourist season. 

There are recruitment problems in this occupation. While it is relatively easy to access this occupation, many servers leave it as soon as they find employment that offers better working conditions. The traditional pool of candidates is shrinking owing to wages that are less and less competitive in a growing labour market and the demographic decline of the number of young people.

Here are some key facts about Food and beverage servers in Prince Edward Island:

• Approximately 600 people work in this occupation.
• Food and beverage servers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 88%
  • Accommodation services (NAICS 721): 8%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 39% compared to 84% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 61% compared to 16% for all occupations
• 26% of food and beverage servers work all year, while 74% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 31 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of food and beverage servers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 20% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 80% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 18% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 45% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 24% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • bachelor’s degree: 8% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations

Source: Job Bank

Prevailing Wages