We begin the New Year with the encouraging news that the UK is predicted to be the West’s fastest growing economy at the start of 2014.
Analysis conducted by the UK Business Confidence Monitor, based on growth figures from 2013, predicts the UK economy will continue to grow at a slow and steady rate throughout 2014.
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) by the end of Q3 2013 the UK economy had grown by 0.8%; its strongest performance since 2010. Growing confidence in the construction and manufacturing sectors during Q1 and Q2 of 2013, along with a drop in unemployment rates, were cited as factors influencing a growing confidence in our economy.
But how does this affect job seekers looking forward to 2014?
Knowledge and the personal touch
The UK jobs market has changed significantly in the last two years and continues to change in response to rapidly emerging industries, including technology and online marketing, but also in response to the way in which people want to work.
The Jobs Economist Consultancy recently analysed data from the ONS to compile a list of the UK’s fastest growing and fastest declining jobs.
The data compares ONS employment rates in Q2 2011 with Q2 2013 and provides a snapshot of the kind of roles jobseekers might find themselves applying for in 2014.
“The expansion of these occupations highlights the degree to which both knowledge and ‘the personal touch’ are key skill requirements in today’s labour market,” said Dr John Philpott, director of The Jobs Economist.
The list of fastest growing jobs includes:
- Paramedics
- Psychologists
- Graphic designers
- Company secretaries
- Police community support officers
- Production managers and directors in mining and quarrying
- Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium associates
- Conference and exhibitions managers and organisers
- Chemicals and related process operatives
- Planning, process and production technicians
Although the list of fastest growing jobs includes several highly skilled roles the list of jobs in decline also identifies some skilled roles experiencing a downturn:
- Ambulance staff (non paramedic)
- Plasterers and pipe fitters
- Parking attendants
- Debt collectors and bailiffs
- Dressmakers
Other trends for 2014 and beyond
Technology jobs, particularly website design and ‘content’ marketing occupations, are also expected to be greatly in demand in 2014. So-called content marketing, which includes everything from social media management to blog writing to email marketing, is a growth area due to the huge increase in internet usage for business and commerce. Jobs in web design, particularly responsive web design (which creates websites to ‘fit’ all devices, e.g. laptops, mobiles and tablets), is expected t increase in line with the ever-evolving range of media devices available on the market. At the top end of the technology industry roles in 3D engineering (including 3D rendering and printing) are expected to lead the way.
With the steady improvement of the UK’s housing market jobs in the property industry, particularly in real estate, are expected to increase. This is an industry which experienced massive decline during the recent economic downturn. However, with growing confidence in the mortgage market and a rise in house prices, estate agencies are expected to start recruiting for more roles jobs in property sales and marketing.
Finally, looking at the long range forecast for jobs (2012-2022), jobs in the care sector are predicted to rise in importance. With the UK’s population ageing faster than growing roles in the care sector, especially care workers, are predicted to be the fastest growing.
We think this is really encouraging news for North Wales as many of the jobs highlighted for growth are an already an essential part of our economy.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts. Do the predictions give you a reason to rethink your career plans?
If they do we’d be delighted to help you make the change. Contact us today to arrange an appointment.
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