Graduates’ Perception on the Factors Affecting Commitment to Pursue Career in the Hospitality Industry

The purpose of this study is to determine the barriers influencing hospitality undergraduates pursuing a career in the hospitality industry. A total of 70 final year diploma students majoring in hotel and tourism management, UiTM (Pulau Pinang) participated in this study to complete the survey. Based on the results of the regression among nature of work, social status, pay/benefits and commitment to the hospitality industry, it was found that the model was significant with predictors explaining 45% of the variation in commitment to the hospitality industry. The findings showed that only two predictors statistically had significant contribution to the commitment hospitality industry and those predictors were social status and pay benefits. In term of importance, social status was the largest unique contribution to the commitment to the hospitality industry. The negative characteristics of the hospitality industry have reduced the graduates’ interest to seek a career in the industry upon graduating even the need to attract and recruit hospitality graduates to work in the hotel industry is very crucial towards the future success of the industry since the industry is facing the problem of employee shortage.