DOLE: Tourism boom will require more chefs

The current boom in the tourism industry will also create a boom in the hotel and restaurant industry, the Department of Labor and Employment said in a press release Wednesday. 

 

A total of 1,497,851 visitors came to the Philippines from January to April this year, a 14.61% increase from the 1,306,944 visitors who came in the same period last year. 

 

“The hotel and restaurant industry is a pillar of the tourism sector.  It goes without saying that improved tourism means increased hotel and restaurant activities,” said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

 

In anticipation of this demand, DOLE has added the occupational position of chef in the DOLE’s Career Guides as a featured career under the hotels and restaurant industry.

 

The DOLE career guide provides basic information about an occupation to the public, from its basic educational requirements and cost of education to employment opportunities and opportunities for career advancement. It also identifies the necessary skills and competencies.

 

According to the guide, there are no specific educational requirements for chefs, but most employers prefer high school graduates who have completed a course on commercial food preparation. 

 

Those with four-year degrees in International Hospitality Management, with specialty in culinary arts, have an edge in securing high-paying jobs, such as that of an executive chef in prestigious restaurants or hotels. 

 

A degree in International Hospitality Management costs around P170,000 to P200,000 per semester, inclusive of the materials (utensils and ingredients) that will be used during the course.

 

The salaries of chefs vary according to the type of establishment in which they work. The monthly salary for entry level chefs starts from P10,000 to P18,000, depending on their level of education and where they are working. 

 

“There are many employment and business opportunities for a chef, which includes authoring a cookbook, going into catering business for weddings, and business functions, among others. They can also work as consultants for restaurant owners who want to develop special menus,” Baldoz said. — Aileen Estoquia/DVM, GMA News