Nachmias, Stefanos, Paddison, Brendan and Mortimer, Chris (2014) Recession: a chance for hospitality SMEs? Education + Training, 56 (5). pp. 414-429.

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Abstract

Purpose – The research takes a comprehensive evaluation of hospitality students’ perceptions towards
small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) employment and explores whether the current recession and
labour market changes influence hospitality students career-related decisions. Such exploration would
provide vital information as to how the new economic environment hasmodified the nature and context of
hospitality students perceptions towards SMEs. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach – The research focuses on a constructionist philosophy in order to
interpret how hospitality students construct of career choice. The qualitative methodology adopts
semi-structured interviews in order to explore the socially constructed views of hospitality students’
perception of SMEs employment.
Findings – In spite of recessional challenges which particularly affect the graduate labour market, the
research confirms the original academic arguments that socially constructed barriers and influencing
factors do not highlight SMEs as an attractive first employment destination.
Practical implications – This research recognises the need to reconsider the curriculum for
hospitality students to embed the notion of SMEs as a possible career choice.
Social implications – Socially SMEs have not either historically or in the present day been seen
as providing adequate resources for graduates entering the world of work. Such an implication has
a considerably impact upon the supply and demand side of SMEs graduate labour market.
Originality/value – The economic downturn now poses a real challenge for new graduates as it is
difficult to predict and discuss future labour market issues and trends. The research allows key
stakeholders in graduate employment to understand the effects of the economic environment to graduate
SMEs perceptions and take measures in improving SMEs-graduate employment in hospitality.
Keywords Hospitality, SMEs, Recession, Graduate employment, Career perception

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Emerald in Education & training on 07/08/2014, available online: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/ET-04-2013-0056
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.1108/ET-04-2013-0056
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General)
School/Department:	York Business School
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/1731

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