The most in-demand professions in the UK right now – a guide for jobseekers

There’s no denying that the jobs market is tough at the moment, with many companies freezing their recruitment or having to lay off staff to save money.

However, despite the UK seeing the biggest drop in employment in more than a decade as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, there are signs that the picture is slowly improving. In August, the number of job vacancies posted online was at 62% of the 2019 average – with certain professions being particularly in demand.

If you’re currently looking for work, there’s a lot of merit in targeting sectors which are growing rapidly. So, which fields are expected to ramping up their recruitment activity over the coming weeks and months?

Health and social care

According to recent data, vacancies in health and social care are very nearly back to 2019 levels – with the government planning to fund thousands of new nurse vacancies in England. The £172m pot of funding will allow healthcare employers to take on up to 2,000 nursing apprentices at degree level over the next four years.

This is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to get into nursing without the expense of going to university. You’ll learn on-the-job whilst earning a salary, and after completing the four-year apprenticeship you’ll be able to qualify as a fully registered nurse.

Digital

There’s currently a huge appetite for digital skills, with many businesses having to adapt, innovate and change the way they deliver their goods or services because of the pandemic.

Fields such as web programming, web developing, user experience and graphic design are seeing a surge in vacancies as more organisations adopt a digital-first approach to meeting shifting demand and changes to the way we work.

Greater Manchester is home to a plethora of thriving tech companies, including e-commerce businesses like Amazon and The Hut Group – both of which are currently going through a huge recruitment drive.

Engineering

Engineers are going to be crucial in helping the country’s industrial recovery – with over 200,000 people with engineering skills needed every year in the UK.

According to a report published by The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, an effort to drive transferrable skills from one area of engineering to another will be key in enabling the sector to recover from the effects of Covid-19. So once you get your foot in the door, the possibilities are endless in terms of where a career in engineering could take you.

Specific areas of engineering where there is heightened demand for workers include the oil and gas industries, as well as renewables, nuclear and pharmaceuticals.

Teaching

Now is a great time to join the public sector, and move into a career in teaching is a great way to do something truly rewarding.

As the new academic year begins, in addition to teaching roles in schools, there’s likely to be an increase in the number of private tutors required, as parents look to help their children catch up in on the education they missed during lockdown. This option is ideal if you’re looking for a part-time or more flexible position, and it could even give you the opportunity to go self-employed.

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