Human resources in tourism: Still waiting for change? – A 2015 reprise

•Global review of trends and developments in HRM/employment in tourism.•Adopts a macro-environmental analytical approach.•Identifies newly emerging issues and themes.•Takes a futures perspective on tourism employment.

Seemingly intransigent human resource issues remain at the forefront of global tourism's challenges. Some of the key issues were identified in Baum's (2007) reflections on this topic. In light of the significant change that has impacted on tourism and employment in the intervening years, this conceptual paper provides an assessment of the current status of the issues that Baum identified in 2007 and identifies a range of emerging concerns that continue to shape the tourism workplace and workforce. The status of tourism work can be seen in terms of both continuity and change and the impact of these contrary forces is considered in reaching conclusions that highlight both the ongoing challenges for tourism and the evident progress that can be identified.