Event Staffing After COVID-19: 8 Changes You Need to Know

Some of you might remember COVID-19 as three years of face masks, no-contact protocols, travel restrictions, vaccines, and shifting mandates, but for the event staffing industry, COVID-19 left a mark that has changed event staffing needs for the long haul. In 2025, COVID-19 remains a force that brought a dramatic shift not just in the kind of staff the industry looks for, but also how it operates.

In this post, we look into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the events industry and how COVID-19 has changed event staffing needs.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Events Industry 

The events industry is undeniably one of the hardest-hit sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic. A quick scope of the internet shows that the damage had real effects, impacting not only operations but even more so the financial side of events. Let’s look at some of these studies.

In Qatar, a study on the events sector revealed how both internal and external lockdowns severely disrupted tourism, which in turn crippled the hotel and hospitality industries. Fear among the public further discouraged attendance and participation. A third consequence was a significant drop in disposable income, making events a lower priority for many.

In the UK, the impact was just as harsh. The events sector reported a loss of over 126,000 jobs. More than one-third of businesses experienced financial losses between £1 million and £5 million. Globally, as per a report based on the 2023 Global Economic Significance of Business Events study, the total global direct business event expenditure loss over three years (2020-2022) amounts to $1.9 trillion. 

COVID-19 didn’t just disrupt operations and budgets; it changed how the event industry works. Fast forward to 2025, the industry is now more tech-driven with more event formats, including virtual and hybrid events, people-centered, flexible, and guided by data. 

If you want to learn more about the key staffing trends shaping events in 2025, make sure to check out this post.

How COVID-19 Has Changed Event Staffing Needs

As mentioned, COVID-19 had a significant impact on the events industry, and the changes are still visible today. Alongside that, event staffing needs have also evolved. From the demand for more tech-savvy staff to the use of data-driven tools in recruitment, staffing today looks nothing like it did five years ago. Below, we highlight 8 post-pandemic event staffing trends that changed the industry forever.

1. Increased Demand for Tech-Savvy Staff

Unless you've been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that modern events are relying more and more on technology to meet rising audience expectations and keep up with rapid changes in the field. In turn, the demand for tech-savvy staff is growing fast.

In recent years, the industry has seen the rise of the event technologist role as a key partner to the event planner. But it doesn't stop there. Tech-savvy staff across all areas of event operations are becoming the norm, not just in technical roles. From check-in to live streaming support, having a team that’s comfortable with tech has become a major advantage.

2. Automation for the Hiring Process

COVID-19 made automation in hiring less of an option and more of a must. The same is true for event staffing. With fewer staff, less face-to-face time, and mounting pressure in an already fast-paced industry, manual hiring just can’t keep up. 

Automation helps lighten the load, cutting down on time and costs, letting you screen more applicants faster, reducing errors, and improving communication. It also makes scaling easier, helps with compliance, speeds up offer letters, and smooths out onboarding without the usual back-and-forth.

Wanna learn more about how automation improves event staffing? Here’s an in-depth guide for you.

3. Enhanced Focus on Staff Well-Being

Staffing challenges during the pandemic went way beyond just filling shifts. Industries dealt with mass resignations, burnout, disengaged teams, changing health rules, and economic uncertainty, all at the same time. Events and hospitality weren’t spared. And since event management is already one of the most stressful jobs, the pressure only got worse. Event staffing employers and managers had no choice but to rethink how they support and keep their people. One solution that’s stood out? Putting staff well-being first.

Staff well-being covers the physical, mental, emotional, and social health of your team at work. It’s about how safe, supported, valued, and balanced they feel in their role. Supporting staff well-being means checking in regularly, encouraging work-life balance through flexible setups, building an inclusive and supportive culture, offering wellness programs and mental health resources, and making space for open communication and engagement in well-being efforts.

4. Freelancers and Flexible Talent Are Now the Norm

Freelancers and flexible talent, those who make up the gig economy, are becoming staples in event staffing. According to a recent report based on an interview with industry professionals, the demand for gig-economy workers in the events industry has grown as companies have faced talent shortages following widespread attrition during the pandemic. As in-person events have returned, there has been an urgent need for skilled freelancers who can handle live, virtual, or hybrid formats. At the same time, companies have been looking to cut costs by avoiding full-time hires and instead outsourcing roles like field sales reps, saving on salaries, travel, and conference fees. 

5. Greater Emphasis on Reskilling and Upskilling 

According to a 2021 McKinsey report, businesses in the leisure and hospitality space are the most at risk of losing employees. In 2025, the events industry is still feeling the weight of staff loss, and labor shortages remain a persistent challenge. So, what helps? Reskilling and upskilling. 

Reskilling staff into roles your team actually needs helps close gaps fast and keeps events running smoothly. On the other hand, upskilling sharpens your current team’s capabilities so they can take on new tools, trends, and responsibilities without missing a beat.

Learn more about how to handle staff shortages in the event industry in this post.

6. Data-Driven Staffing Decisions Are the New Standard

In a time when data drives almost everything, it’s no surprise that it’s making waves in recruitment, too. In case you missed it, 82% of companies say that data is critical to make talent acquisition decisions. One study also showed how healthcare organizations use workforce analytics to align staffing with patient demand, cutting down on burnout, improving outcomes, and reducing over- or understaffing. The same wins apply to event staffing, and more and more staffing professionals are seeing it. Workforce analytics and forecasting tools are now being used more actively to plan shifts smarter, cut down no-shows, and staff more precisely based on real-time demand.

Dive deeper into how you can improve event staffing with data in this guide.

7. Virtual Onboarding and Training Are Here to Stay

The pandemic forced a quick shift from in-person training to virtual onboarding and training, and it wasn’t just a temporary fix. A study suggests this shift will continue into the post-pandemic era, and in 2025, we see that this conclusion holds true. 

Much like other industries filling open roles, event staffing has embraced virtual onboarding and training, from the pandemic until now. These modern recruitment processes have helped in speeding things up, giving staff clear guidance and support right from the start. Not to mention, they have also helped cut down costs.

8. Health Checks Remain a Core Requirement for Employment

COVID-19 impact on event staffing pushed health and safety to the forefront, and event staff health and safety protocols became more routine and data-driven. During the height of the pandemic, event staff had to undergo testing and be trained in sanitation, PPE use, and venue safety protocols. Some agencies even adopted digital health screening tools before shifts. At present, while the immediate threat of COVID-19 has eased, the heightened awareness around health and safety hasn’t gone away completely. We still observe many agencies include health checks as standard practice before hiring staff.

Power Up Your Post-Pandemic Staffing Strategy With StaffConnect

In the wake of COVID-19, event staffing demands have shifted, and StaffConnect is built to meet them. From no-shows to last-minute changes, this powerful event staffing software helps you stay on top of it all. Its GPS Check In/Out feature confirms who’s on-site and when, while automated notifications instantly alert you about absences so you can find replacements fast. Tools like scheduled breaks and digital health checks help you promote staff wellbeing, comply with local regulations, and adapt to today’s health-conscious environment. With the ability to manage waivers, safety protocols, and online onboarding, your staffing becomes more efficient, no clipboards, no chaos.

Furthermore, StaffConnect helps you match the right staff to the right event with customizable filters, searchable talent databases, and visual event calendars that keep your whole team aligned. Talent can also update their own availability, preventing double bookings and streamlining scheduling. Moreover, StaffConnect’s communication tools let you stay connected without being on-site, which is a must in today’s hybrid landscape. 

Make post-pandemic operations smoother. Book a free demo with StaffConnect today.