Looking for some good news to start the New Year? A new study by not-for-profit member organisation, The Institute of Student Employers (ISE), claims that the graduate jobs market is expected to strengthen in 2018.
Top jobs for graduates include:
The picture also looks good for those seeking the vocational route, with employers expected to offer 32 percent more apprenticeships this year compared to last year.
High-paid apprenticeship options include:
For Kevin Green, Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, it seems there’s no better time to further your skills and tap into this open market. “We have lists where recruiters cite the jobs they are currently finding it hard to fill,” he said. “In permanent jobs there used to be six or seven areas. Now there are 50 or 60. Skills and talent shortages are pervasive across the economy at the moment.”
According to ISE Chief Executive, Stephen Isherwood, the last few years have been heavily influenced by the elephant in the room – the Brexit vote. The pound has bounced around, rising and falling on foreign exchanges and concerns over the stability of the government. We saw a downturn in consumer spending and a fall in exports to non-EU countries amongst other things.
In the last six months, however, an upturn in activity points to strong economic growth. As Isherwood puts it, we are seeing “a return to normal state of play”. Companies need skilled workers, but there doesn’t seem to be enough to go around.
Should the number of skilled workers remain low, the upturn in economic activity could be halted.
The labour shortage is proving to be a problem for many UK companies, with 46% of companies saying they are having difficulty recruiting skilled staff. 18% of these companies are expected to increase pay for staff in 2018, to help manage this shortage.
Unemployment is down to a 42-year low of 4.3 percent, making it hard to find workers in most regions of the UK. Meanwhile, the UK economy grew at an annualised rate of 2 percent in the final quarter of 2017, outstripping the forecasted 1.2 percent growth.
The latest Confederation of British Industry’s Quarterly Study says the skills shortage in the service sector has hit its worst level in at least 19 years. The lack of appropriately skilled professional or clerical staff has risen to the highest ever recorded level since the survey began in 1998. The service sector, which includes industries like finance, marketing, travel and leisure, makes up the majority of the UK economy.
In the construction sector, Britain’s shortage of surveyors, bricklayers and other construction workers is holding back building work at a time when the country is in need of more housing and infrastructure. Almost two-thirds of surveyors say that a lack of skilled workers is limiting building activity.
All in all, the lack of skills currently seen in the UK is estimated to be costing the country £90 billion a year.
Seems like a pretty good time to upskill, right?
In an age when the chief global business cliche is the “war for talent”, the UK is fighting as hard a war as any. For the UK to avoid an economic decline, it needs more trained nurses, construction workers, bankers, architects, administrators, accountants, hospitality managers and more.
This need for trained professionals has the potential to transform the futures of the British… for the better. If you are willing to upskill, then the UK job market is your oyster.
Upskilling opportunities can be found in a number of formats, from full-time university or college courses, apprenticeships and internships, to short courses and distance education. Upskilling with any of these opportunities will improve your performance and help you make your pick from the best jobs available on the market.
When you upskill, you:
Upskill today and you will instantly improve your employability. The more extensive your skill set, the more likely you’ll be seen as valuable to a prospective employer. The more varied your skills, the more accessible you become to interesting and varied work.
Placing yourself in a situation where you can gain new skills and knowledge often opens you up to something you never knew you had a love for. New challenges and opportunities can ignite a passion inside you that you never knew existed.
Upskilling and learning allows you to grow and diversify your skills at a more advanced rate, giving you greater bargaining power with your employer. Bargaining power is the foundation for change if you’re not happy with your job offer later on.
Despite an employee shortage, the increasing amount of outsourced labour and technological advancements means more and more people are being replaced in their jobs. By upskilling, you become an irreplaceable asset, proving you have the enthusiasm to be a key part of the organisation.
In business, it’s often not ‘what you know’ but ‘who you know’. Surrounding yourself with likeminded people offers a positive energy that can instill great things, and a catalogue of contacts is always handy too.
If money is your motivator and you’re not planning on becoming a celebrity or self-made mogul, it pays to take a look at the highest earning industries and their pay before tax. Examples of areas where you could be financially successful include:
Brokers are mostly employed by banks, consultancy outfits, financial institutions and other companies. Main responsibilities include managing the financial portfolios of clients and staying on top of the financial markets.
To get into the industry, we recommend studying bookkeeping and MYOB. Alternatively you could look at completing a financial services apprenticeship, with investment banking companies like JP Morgan and Barclays offering excellent schemes. Bear in mind that these tend to be London- or city-based.
A sales and marketing director can earn upwards of £85,000 a year, and life is rarely boring. Main responsibilities include planning and implementing, marketing and developing strategies, staying on top of current marketing trends, overseeing and evaluating market research, and managing budgets as well as performance goals.
To get into the industry, we recommend studying marketing.
Also referred to as a corporate counsel, in-house lawyers are hired by businesses, organisations and corporations to give counsel to employees on various legal matters. Main responsibilities include negotiating and agreeing on contracts, giving advice on legal issues, evaluating company strategy, and other responsibilities related to law.
To get into the industry, we recommend studying paralegal secretarial. Alternatively you could consider undertaking a legal apprenticeship for five to six years with the new government scheme or top law firms like Gordons and Fieldfisher.
Insurance and financial institution managers try to minimise financial loss, identify and mitigate risk, and develop strategies for long-term financial gain. Main responsibilities include the provision of guidance, the management of operations and productivity, the analysis of market trends and competitors, and the development external relationships.
To get into the industry, we recommend studying business management.
Looking a few years into the future, we should see disruptive technologies, climate change, robotics, natural resource limitations, renewable energy, big data, and an ageing population continuing to make big changes in the job market. For those just beginning their career journey, the future is bright with plenty of opportunity.
Cyber security experts will be in high demand, so if you’re interested in tech, consider finding your feet with a diploma in IT. Mental health professionals will also be in demand, so consider entering the field with our counselling and psychology advanced diploma. The creative industry will grow too, so take on any design course, be it in graphic design, web design, marketing or horticulture, and watch as the job opportunity door opens.
Basically, demand for all skilled professionals will continue to grow, so get studying and upskilling today.
Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.
Join our mailing list today and stay updated with the latest news and offers curated for you
