With the end of the second lockdown and the roll out of the Pfizer vaccine, the latest figures indicate the biggest uplift in hiring since the start of the pandemic in March. While certain industries such as travel and retail are still struggling to regain hiring momentum, there are strong indications of renewed demand in many areas. This is expected to continue into the new year as businesses look to take on additional skills in order to kickstart their operations. Here we take a look at the hiring landscape in December and how this also indicates the emerging jobs of the future.
White Collar
While business sought to take advantage of the furloughing scheme to keep afloat, they’re now refocusing on getting back to business. Organisations know that in order to remain competitive in a changing marketplace, they must kick start their operations, including change projects and securing access to the right talent pool in order to move forward. This has seen a recent boom in white collar industries, with demand for candidates specialising in regulatory, treasury, financial planning and analysis roles. In the legal sector, hiring was 42% higher in October and November than September, in media and communications it was 41% higher and in finance it was up 24%.
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
The roll out of the Pfizer vaccine and a national vaccination programme has seen the NHS ramp up its recruitment for healthcare professionals. The need to quickly roll out vaccinations while also keeping other medical services operational means more flexible, paid roles within the NHS. Clinical locums and qualified agency carers will be able to carry out the first phase of the vaccination programme. However, recent changes to the law now allow a wider group of staff to undertake training to deliver vaccines. Contractors are encouraged to think outside the box when it comes to applying their skills to healthcare and its wider support services – such as pharma, logistics, IT, finance and administration.
Green Energy
Following on from the 10-step green recovery plan, the government has set out historic plans to clean up our energy system and keep bills affordable as we transition to net zero. The Energy White Paper will prompt a green economic recovery by supporting up to 220,000 jobs over the next decade across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. With committed investment from the UK government, the renewables sector offers excellent prospects for energy contractors. The range of jobs within this field is extremely wide - from construction engineers to scientific consultants, data specialists and financial consultants needed to unlock private investment opportunities.
Tech
A massive 33% of talent working in emerging jobs is currently employed by IT companies in the computer software industry. As interactions become more and more automated, it’s perhaps no surprise that Artificial Intelligence Specialist is the number one emerging job in the UK. According to McKinsey research, AI could potentially deliver a 22% boost to the UK economy by 2030. Roles in DevOps, Cybersecurity and Robotics all made LinkedIn’s list of 15 Top Jobs of the Future, compiled using year on year growth statistics. IT support roles will be needed across all industries, particularly as operations go digital and industries such as retail transition more fully to online models in the wake of the pandemic.
Customer Support
Although the digital transition will inevitably see some customer facing jobs lost to automation, there will be huge potential for human interaction roles in the area of customer relations and user experience. This is because organisations are increasingly placing the customer at the centre of their competitive operations. Research shows that organisations that utilise customer behaviour outperform peers by 85% in sales growth and more than 25% in gross margin. Today, there are 10 times more Customer Success Specialists in the UK than there were in 2015. These professionals need a combination of skills as they must understand the product while also managing the customer relationship.
Data Protection
In the first year of implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) there were 41,000 complaints to the Information Commissioner’s Office (source). The number of Data Protection Officers (DPO) in the UK is growing rapidly, and there are now 24 times more Data Protection Officers in the UK than there were in 2015, with people transferring their skills from roles such as Compliance Officer or Data Manager. The role of a DPO is to ensure that the handling of personal data complies with data protection rules. Unique skills needed include knowledge of Data Privacy, Data Protection Act, GDPR, and Personal Data Protection.
Digital Marketing Communications
As business move their products and services online, the need for effective digital marketing is becoming increasingly competitive. The requirement for businesses to communicate effectively with their target audience is an important part of the user experience, while also helping with the development of products and services. As a result, roles such as Content Designer have nudged into the Top-15 Emerging Jobs list. From creating and reviewing content around the customer journey, to in-depth research and analytics, digital communication roles require skills that are in demand across many industries.
More on the latest vacancies in December can be found here, while LinkedIn’s free online resource for emerging jobs training can be found here. If you’re starting a new contracting role, Umbrella Exchange have access to a wide range of hassle-free services that can help you with setting up a limited company or finding the right umbrella company for you. To talk to a member of our team, call: 0203 393 3881