Analysis of job offers and sought-after qualifications in tourist service sector Report based on the studies carried out in 2003 Tourism is regarded as one of the most important sectors of global economy, which effectively counteracts unemployment. In order to provide a diagnosis of the local employment market, studies have been undertaken to determine the number of job offers pertaining to the tourist service sector. The studies were carried out in the Malopolska Region. Employment announcements published in the Gazeta Wyborcza Journal (in 2003) were utilized. These announcements appeared in the special weekly edition of “Employment Magazine”. It should be noted that this particular journal is the most comprehensive and credible source of information for people seeking employment. The future employees' requirements posted in these announcements was verified by one's own research employing a survey method. Based on the analysis of job offers it has been confirmed that press announcements do not provide an essential source for acquiring tourist branch employees. Out of slightly over 27 thousand announcements, only 432 concerned the tourist service sector; this merely constitutes 1.6% of all available offers. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that job requirements do not clarify the need for qualified tourist service personnel. In contrast, the above-mentioned requirements provide roughly minimum standards, i.e. allowing candidates to submit application forms in tourist companies. Naturally this does not guarantee employment position. The conducted studies enabled to list several important criteria, which are decisive in selection of future employees. These criteria are the following: general professional experience (depending on the sector of employment), office program maintenance, and maintenance of sector-related programs. It is useful and beneficial to possess additional qualifications, e.g. sport and recreation instructor. The employers also emphasize the so-called “soft skill abilities”; this pertains mainly to the ease of establishing contacts, organizational working skills in a group etc. The most important personal characteristics of an employee are: high communication skills, stress resistance, creativity, and flexibility. It is also important to possess good appearance and high sophistication. To sum up, we should point out hat based on the performed analysis it is difficult to ascertain, what sort of requirements must the employee possess in order to obtain a job in the tourist sector. The detailed candidate's profile may be only determined based on in-depth studies pertaining the employment status in the tourist sector. However, the aforementioned analysis provides some insight in terms of the number of tourism-related job offers as well as to the type of job positions offered by the employers in the year 2003.