Workforce Development

Situational Analysis

In the post-pandemic landscape, destinations worldwide have faced increased challenges in developing and retaining a skilled workforce to support their hospitality industry. Albuquerque, as a prominent tourism destination, is not exempt from this trend.

Workforce and talent development, along with talent retention, emerged as one of the top three priority areas within the stakeholder survey in response to rating how to best allocate tourism resources. An overwhelming 75% of stakeholders rated it as very important or extremely important. This underscores the significance of investing in initiatives that enhance the hospitality industry's workforce and attract and retain skilled professionals.

Albuquerque has a favorable landscape to build a strong hospitality workforce, with existing opportunities and resources to be leveraged. The State government’s provision of free in-state college education for qualified New Mexico residents presents an invaluable asset for training future professionals. Additionally, Albuquerque has the advantage of an established citywide program, called Job Training ABQ, where training opportunities are provided for individuals seeking employment. During the development of this master plan, the City’s Economic Development Department kicked off a hospitality module within the Job Training ABQ program to respond to industry needs. Since its start in 2024, the records indicated that this module has been increasingly popular among hospitality employees, showing promising potential for expansion.

The stakeholder survey indicates that developing a comprehensive hospitality education program for youth is vital. While official tourism education programs, such as a high school trade program, provide early exposure to the industry, the absence of hospitality-focused college degrees within Albuquerque highlights the potential for partnership with academic institutions. Visit Albuquerque can encourage the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College to develop a degree program in hospitality management or tourism, focusing on leadership skills. In addition, Visit Albuquerque can collaborate with the hospitality management program at New Mexico State University to attract students back to Albuquerque after graduation, creating a skilled talent pool that contributes to the city's economic growth.

To maximize the impact of these opportunities and meet the workforce demands of the hospitality industry, collaboration is crucial. Working together with the City of Albuquerque and educational partners across the region, Visit Albuquerque can support initiatives that promote the benefits and opportunities available in the hospitality sector. By prioritizing workforce development and talent retention, Albuquerque can nurture a resilient and skilled workforce that drives the success of its vibrant hospitality industry.

Workforce Development Strategies and Recommendations