As the majority of workers across the country return to work, the New Year presents a prime opportunity for staff to consider their career options for 2018. Understanding which employers are recruiting and where the opportunities lie is essential for anybody looking for jobs. Contributor Nigel Heap, Managing Director – Hays UK & Ireland.
Over half of the UK workforce (55 percent) plans to look for new job opportunities this year and close to three-quarters (71 percent) of employers are planning to hire in 2018, according to a survey of almost 17,500 employers and employees by leading recruiting experts, Hays. Although the competition for jobs is high, the outlook is positive for those who are looking to move.
In its pivotal top ten, Hays has revealed the roles that employers are looking for 2018, based on jobs with high market demand. These roles are commanding significant salary increases because of a shortage of suitably qualified and experienced candidates in these areas. Is your job on the most wanted list?
Top ten jobs for 2018
- IT security architects
- Data analysts
- Risk analysts
- Part-qualified accountants
- Civil engineers
- Payroll team leaders
- Java developers
- Safety case engineers
- Building surveyors
- Project managers
Nigel Heap, Managing Director of Hays UK & Ireland, comments: “Looking for a new job always features highly amongst new year resolutions, but to keep those resolutions alive candidates need to understand how much demand there is for their skills and how likely they will be to secure another role. This will ensure it doesn’t just stay a pipe dream and can become a reality.
It’s clear from looking at our top ten that professionals working within the digital technology, finance and construction industries can expect a positive outlook for 2018 in terms of salaries and job opportunities. We’re seeing continued investment in these areas across the UK. High on employers’ wish lists is candidates with experience in these areas, a willingness to work hard and the ability get some great results.
However, that’s not to say that professionals outside of this list can’t expect to find good opportunities – it will vary according to location and industry so it is important to understand what your own situation is. If you’re looking for a new challenge in 2018, now is a crucial time to evaluate where you want to take your career, reflect on how your skills could benefit an employer and find out where your next role could be by looking at what jobs are available.”
