Connecting macro sociocultural institutions and the U.S. tourism workforce: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Tourism’s job-creating potential has long been recognized, yet employment remains understudied. This exploratory research attempts to identify research connecting the tourism workforce and macro-level social, cultural, and economic structures in the context of the United States. A systematic review of publications during the years 2000 to 2018 was conducted, categorizing research into micro, meso or macro-focused. Results reveal that although the call for deeper exploration into the tourism workforce began increasing at the turn of the century, researchers have been slow to answer it. Future research suggestions focus on macro-level issues within the workforce that remain glaringly absent.