Right now, there is a lack of demand for talent in key sectors in the UK. According to the ONS, we have had 2 years of negative job growth since April-June 2022, a decline which has been even longer than the financial crisis of 2008, with job vacancies dropping by 37%.
The affected sectors include just about anything from technology, to education, arts, retail and food. For many frustrated UK-based jobseekers, it seems as though most opportunities are abroad, whether in the USA or Middle East, or at the largest, most established corporations.
But one area which remains in high demand is the trades. Plumbers, electrical technicians, construction staff etc are some of the most resilient roles in this market. And if we’re looking at niche skills in renewable/green energy, this becomes even more prominent.
With the government significantly increasing its investment in infrastructure to £35 billion in 2025/6, not to mention the green skills gap which is hardly closing (we will be lacking nearly 200,000 workers to reach our net-zero target according to PwC), there will be a severe shortage of talent for these jobs.
It seems as though there is a reluctance for the current and new generations to enter the trades. Perhaps it’s social stigma, driven by a growing middle class population who want their children to go to university. Or perhaps it is the often-challenging work conditions compared to an office environment, not to mention the fact that most roles have to be performed onsite.
Despite the trades being necessary to the functioning of our society, powering our energy, utilities or waste management systems, it seems unlikely that even unemployed digital workers would make the transition to manual.
Ironically, some office workers who look down on the trades fail to recognise the job security compared to their own jobs which are increasingly being replaced by AI (yes, AI creates new roles, but it will not create net new roles). And until we see significant advancements in robotics (which is occurring at a far slower place than AI replacement), the trades will remain in increasingly high demand.
With all that being said, where does that leave Gen Z and new talent entering the market? Could there be a slow shift in mindsets?
According to the House of Commons Library, the number of students entering full-time higher education reduced from 37.5% in 2022 to 35.8% last year. Whereas, the number of apprenticeships increased by 1.1% to 278,590 last year.
Perhaps Gen Z in the UK is starting to notice this shift towards physical roles and appreciate the demand in the sector. It’s too soon to tell and apprenticeships often times are digital too, but the transition to physical is one that needs to happen.
We are seeing a shift from digital to physical when it comes to career opportunities.
What are your thoughts on AI screening tools used to filter through resumes?
Often times, they are being misused and you could be missing out on top talent.
