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Job Trends in the United Kingdom

Though UK has people from around the world flocking in to its land, UK is still open to bringing in more foreigners from all parts of the world with unique skills and competent background. So what are the jobs that are continually in demand? (Do You Need Permission to Work in UK?)


The world's economy is in a recession, as a result of the global financial crisis. There are normally job losses during a recession. As you prepare to make your career decision, you are most likely to be asking how severe will the recession be and when it ends - what skills will be useful and most in demand?

 

Most Popular Careers in UK

As societies evolve, the economic and employment markets change continuously. Changing population ages, woman re-entering employment and medical advances have a dramatic effect on certain job sectors, the most obvious of these being healthcare, housing and pensions. (Work Conditions in UK)


Technological development has opened up a whole new field of jobs, while affecting the nature of almost every area of our society, and particularly the workplace.


On a more local level, certain careers can suddenly become popular for specific reasons. TV shows on interior design or veterinary hospitals can lead to a sudden interest in those areas, while media coverage about skills shortages can prompt an interest in other areas.


Here are the top ten most popular careers for 2009 in the UK. The numbers of people entering employment in these areas is predicted to rise faster than in other career areas over the next five years.

 

Top 10 Most Popular Careers for 2009

 Data Communications Analysts: More and more organizations now stay in touch internally and externally with other sites via networked communications. Analysts are responsible for overseeing the installation and maintenance of such networks, which are now becoming critical to the economic and social infrastructure.

 Marketing Officer: Once existing solely in the private sector, the marketing function is also now an intrinsic aspect of organizational life in the public and voluntary sector. The development of the Internet has served to add to the marketing role, meaning that marketing opportunities continue to grow.

 Software Engineers: The IT job sector grows in size as technological advances continue to be made. Computerized systems are ever more present in every area of organizational activity. Software engineers, who design and develop new applications to meet specific needs, are in ever greater demand.

 Medical Administrator: There is an increasing need for administrators and clerical staff in the healthcare sector, which continues to grow.

 Community Nurse: The development of primary healthcare sees more nursing activities taking place in the local community than ever before. The openings for community nurses, who perform non-surgical tasks in the home or other local settings, are increasing year on year.

 Advertising Agency Account Executive: The media sector is becoming ever more specialized and complex, with an increasing number of specialist publications, broadcast channels and online media. An increasing level of targeted marketing through advertising is seeing growth in the number of opportunities for advertising executives.

 Customer Services Assistant: The growth of Customer Relationship Management has led to the establishment of many more customer service teams, who are dedicated to responding to customer queries and fulfilling services requested by the telephone or online.

 Information Officer: Digital technology has enabled organizations to store more data more efficiently than in the past. Consequently, more personnel are needed who offer specialist skills in operating database software and information networks, retrieving and disseminating information as necessary.

 Administrator: Secretarial jobs may be decreasing as the personal computer changes the shape of office processes, yet administrative jobs are growing, largely due to the centralization of organizational systems

 Engineer: There is a growing demand for highly trained, skilled personnel who are able to meet the needs of the mechanical, electrical, electronic, automotive, Biomedical and civil engineering sciences.

 

Job Market Trends in Scotland

Information on job trends and employment forecasts is usually based on historical data. This means it will be some time before accurate information is available. There have already been some attempts to identify those industries most at risk. Experts predict that jobs will be lost in manufacturing, retail, finance, hotel and catering, construction with property, renting and other business services also expected to be affected. It is very difficult, however, to predict the exact size of the change in these sectors.


In the meantime, the following key trends are our most up to date information on changes in the types of jobs available and in the way people work.
Over the last 25 years the types of jobs that people do in Scotland has changed:


• Fewer new jobs in manufacturing.

• More jobs within service industries; four out of every five employees in Scotland work in the service sector.

The level of skills employers look for is changing:
• There are now more jobs which need higher level of skills.

• There are still a number of jobs that require few or no skills; particularly in hotels and restaurants and wholesale and retail. However, the numbers of jobs that need lower skill levels are expected to decline.

• Find out how to update your existing skills at Upgrade your skills.

 

Other trends


• Most people are in full-time, permanent jobs.

• The number of part-time jobs has increased in recent years but in addition to rather than as a replacement for full-time jobs.

• Job openings requiring new employees arise both from economic growth and from the need to replace people who leave employment.

• Most future jobs growth is expected to be in education, health and social work.

• The more qualifications a person has; the better they are paid and less likely to be unemployed.

Have jobs become more insecure in terms of contract and hours?
• It doesn't seem so. The average length of time a Scottish employee has spent with their current employer is 8.3 years.

• In 2006 basic working hours (excluding overtime) were 37 hours. This was considered almost stagnant compared to the figure in 1998.

 

Women in the job market:


• A little more than half of all employees in Scotland are female.

• Women work fewer hours than men; 85 per cent of male employees work full-time compared to 52 per cent of female employees.

• On average, women's earnings are 89 per cent of men's.

• Scotland's gender pay gap is closing faster than anywhere else in the UK.

• Significant gender pay gaps still exist in the skilled trades and elementary occupations.

Being able to keep up with and rise to the occasion in the latest job market conditions will not only help you land your dream job fast but also expand your opportunity to a better career and a better standard of living.

 

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Contract Types in UK Job Market
Do You Need Permission to Work in UK?
Job Trends in UK
How to Get a Job in UK
Work Conditions in UK