Employment prospects

There are fewer jobs for 18 year olds leaving education than there were 20 years ago.  With the expansion of higher education more employers are looking for graduates.  In fact, a degree or equivalent qualification is often required for professional jobs such as a solicitor or architect.

The recession has had a significant effect on the numbers of vacancies in construction, retail, finance, manufacturing and engineering.  The reduction in spending affects service industries such as hospitality and catering, and other areas such as Information technology suffer as companies reduce their expenditure. 

The good news is that all recessions do come to an end.  Beyond that it is impossible to make accurate predictions.  However, there are observations we can make based on what has happened in recent years, and what follows below is an outline of where we may be when the worst of the downturn is over.

So what occupational areas should I avoid when looking for jobs?

This is the wrong type of question.  No-one can accurately predict how the economy will change over your working life.  Think of what you really want to do.  You will be far happier in a job you enjoy rather than one you chose for the wrong reasons.  If you are not sure what you want to do then ask for an appointment to see your Connexions Personal Adviser.

Specific occupational areas

1) Administration.  Nearly every employer needs staff working in an office or administration capacity.  Therefore, the number of jobs in this area is quite large.  In some cases you could find yourself competing for vacancies asking for GCSE’s with 16 year olds.  Do not forget larger employers such as local authorities, although many administrative jobs in local and central government have been cut back due to the Spending Review of 2010.  There will be fewer vacancies in public services over the next few years. 

2)  Agriculture and horticulture.  As farming methods improve so the numbers of people required become less.  There is still a requirement for professional, technical and managerial occupations.  Garden centres have shown some expansion in the last ten years and the skills and jobs on offer are probably more closely related to retail areas.

3)  Animal care.  This is always a popular area.  It is harder to become a veterinary surgeon than a medical doctor.  Similarly, to become an RSPCA Inspector is very competitive.  In general, get as many qualifications as you can to improve your chances.

4)  Art & Design.  Art and design careers (and this includes multimedia design and graphic design) usually require an HND or degree as an entry requirement.  Sometimes employers will take young people with A Levels or BTEC Nationals but this is comparatively rare.

5)  Caring/health related.  Many jobs prefer those who are over 18, even if minimum qualifications are GCSE level.  There are still jobs in the National Health Service, despite the recession, but a good proportion will require further study or Higher Education.  Look on the Peterborough and Stamford hospitals website for the latest vacancies.

6)  Childcare and teaching.  This is another popular area with many employers requiring a minimum age of 18.  The better qualifications and experience you have the better chance there is of finding a job.  To become a teacher you need Qualified Teacher Status and this means Higher Education.  There has been a healthy demand for teachers in the last decade particularly in the sciences.  Although budgets have been cut in the public sector, new teachers are still required.  If you are considering teaching, remember the greater expense of going to university with the increase in tuition fees and changes to Student Loans.

7)  Computer/IT.  Programmers and analyst usually need to be graduates.  Although there is no prospect of a return to a boom, there are still vacancies in the I.T. sector.  Progress in technology continues and updates to existing computer systems and there eventual replacement is inevitable.  The internet is increasingly important and seen as a more and cost effective method of distributing information.  Mobile phone technology is closely related to computers and similar skills are required for the design and servicing of networks.

8)  Construction.  This is affected by the buoyancy of the economy and the boom period is now well and truly over.  This has affected trade skills such as bricklayers, carpenters and plumbers more than professional careers.  It is still worth considering becoming qualified for professional occupations such as architects, civil engineers, town planners and quantity surveyors.  There is a prospect of more  "social housing" being required due to the growing U.K. population and the need for affordable housing.

9)  Engineering.  This is a wide occupational area and includes maintenance, fitting and design.  It covers anything from large machine tools that are used in factories to washing machine repair.  There are jobs such as fabrication and welding to design engineering where employers would tend to look for graduates.  There are less Level 3 or technician jobs than there used to be.  Again, you might compete for jobs that ask for GCSE’s with 16 year olds.

10)  Finance.  This includes accountancy, insurance and banking.  If you enter with Level 3 qualifications you may have to consider further training, but consider that Higher Education will probably get you to a professional career more quickly.  The “credit crunch” has seen some contraction in this sector and banks and financial institutions are continuing to cut costs by limiting staff numbers.  The share price of most financial companies has plummeted, which means there is no longer the capital or the prospect of expansion.

11)  Hospitality and catering.  This has grown in recent years but suffered a setback as spending on luxuries has declined.  Some restaurants and pubs have closed as a result.  Most vacancies are for chefs and cooks, bar staff, waiting staff and catering assistants.  However, there is a growing demand for management expertise.  Level 3 qualifications in hospitality can be a step into management and in catering will give you better prospects.

12)  Manufacturing.  Employment was expected to continue decreasing even before the recession.  Although there will continue to be job losses, there is still a demand for skilled and qualified technicians, notably in the metal, food and drink industries.  There will still be a need for managers and technicians.

13) Media.  Employment was projected to increase over the next decade.  The loss in advertising revenue has stalled this expansion over the last year or so.  In the long-term the growth of the internet, continued expansion in broadcasting and greater demand for leisure and cultural interests mean that good long-term prospects remain.  There are many different jobs in this sector, but the more traditional skills associated with journalism are still required.  Many jobs will require further training so seriously consider Higher Education.

14)  Motor vehicle.  The recent restriction in credit has affected new vehicle sales.  However, there are still opportunities within the motor vehicle trade.  Less new cars mean that older vehicles will continue to need repair and maintenance, so there is still a need for these kind of jobs.  Be aware that many jobs are filled "by word of mouth" and the area can be very competitive.  Getting good qualifications helps in what still remains a popular sector.

15)  Retail.  Many large high street shops have management training schemes who consider those with Level 3 qualifications as well as graduates.  You may need to travel or work in another part of the country.  Some large name retailers have now ceased trading and plans to open new stores have been shelved.  This situation may continue as growing unemployment means the public have less disposable income to spend in shops.  This is likely to affect luxury goods more than essentials, although even supermarkets are reducing their variety to concentrate on lines that are likely to sell well.  On-line retailers have seen a steady growth in sales, but they do not require the numbers of staff that a normal shop would need.

16)  Science related.  Those with a level 3 qualification could work in medical, scientific and food processing laboratories.  There is generally a shortage of those interested in the sciences, but again do consider Higher Education as this opens the door to professional careers.

17)  Travel & tourism.  These were growth industries particularly in certain parts of the country.  However, jobs for young people are often in administration such as working in travel agents.  As spending on holidays and recreation has fallen this has led to redundancies.  It may take some time for this industry to recover as the cost of travel has increased, and is unlikely to return to return to where it was a few years ago.