Manchester has always been one of the most vibrant cities in the UK, culturally, historically, and economically. But since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the labour market has plunged into a gloomy uncertainty. The hospitality, tourism, and entertainment sectors took the biggest hit from lockdown restrictions.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that from October to December 2020, about 1.74 million people in the UK were out of work, or 5.1 percent of economically active individuals aged over 16. It is the highest unemployment rate within the last five years. While the figure is alarming, it is not as dismal as economists initially feared, thanks, in part, to the Government’s furlough scheme.

Because of the rapid vaccine roll-out, the next few months will be seeing a slow and cautious easing of the lockdown.  People are optimistic the economy will soon bounce back and the job market along with it. A survey conducted by the employment agency REED reveals that 82 percent of job seekers are hopeful they will find employment this year.

Despite this, the Office for Budget Responsibility believes that the situation will worsen before it gets better.  Experts expect the unemployment rate to grow up to 6.5 percent (about 2.2 million people) at the end of 2021.  Paradoxically, the number of new jobs advertised is growing steadily.  In November 2020, reed.co.uk had approximately 169,000 vacancies on its website, and the figure increased to nearly 200,000 in January. How is this mixed scenario even possible? The short answer is the pandemic has highlighted, if not created, vital positions that some specific sectors must fill.  And we are not talking about healthcare-related vacancies. 

Because Manchester is one of England’s economic strongholds, it is a recruitment hotspot for many industries. What are these occupations, and why is the demand for them growing amid COVID-19?   Whether you are hunting for a job, re-thinking your career, or merely curious about your employment prospects, here is a list of Manchester industries that are hiring.

Information Technology

From software developers and game designers to security experts and data architects, the information technology sector continues to look for talents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  And it does not come as a surprise.  

Due to the lockdown, a majority of companies resorted to remote working for thousands of employees.  IT professionals and specialist Tech engineers are in high demand not only for digital connectivity but also for security.  Furthermore, businesses are scouting for data protection officers and cybersecurity specialists to comply with the new UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and amended Data Protection Act.

When bricks-and-mortar shops closed, the UK experienced a surge in e-commerce.  The popularity of online shops and marketplaces has spiked the demand for individuals with technical know-how and digital marketing skills.  Online businesses are always looking to enhance the end-user experience.  For this, they need individuals who are competent in content design creation, qualitative research, usability testing, and other tech-oriented aptitudes.

Quite expectedly, the Artificial Intelligence industry is swiftly becoming a focus in technology.  In 2020, AI-related job postings rose to 40% as big companies look for qualified engineers, developers, and researchers to help advance automated services. Growth of AI in the IT industry can be seen through the marketing the recruitment sector are putting into the IT industry, (source).

As technology continues to evolve and virtual and remote working becomes more common, the demand for more IT professionals and specialists will only increase.

Electronics

Careers in electronics are among those pandemic-proof occupations that remain in high demand despite several businesses closing.  The functions of electronic professionals are closely related to information technology specialists, and at times even overlap. Examples include software development, computer science, and telecommunications.

The telecommunications sector has been on a steady rise as numerous companies continue to operate remotely and still recruit Manchester based electronics engineers.  Employees, employers, and clients connect through video conferences, instant messaging, and other interactions through various online collaboration services. 

What role do electronic specialists play in this setup?  From designing embedded systems to securing networks, electronic professionals help build and maintain reliable teleworking software and vehicles to enforce an effective and successful work-from-home culture.  For this reason, they are an indispensable workforce even during the pandemic.

Veterinary

The COVID-19 pandemic created a staggering demand for medical practitioners, health care providers, laboratory scientists, and mental health specialists. However, veterinary service is something that many job seekers have overlooked.

Despite the lockdown, veterinary practices remain open subject to strict COVID safety guidelines. Veterinarians should not meet patients face-to-face unless the circumstance gravely affects the health and welfare of the animal. Additionally, they can postpone handling unurgent cases or manage them through phone or remote consultations.

More importantly, veterinarians and veterinary technicians do not only provide services that focus on the well-being of animals. They also help protect, monitor, and regulate livestock farming systems to maintain food chain sustainability and security, especially during the pandemic and thus there are plenty of vet jobs up and down the UK, consistently.

Finance

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the financial services sector is among the top three industries employing emerging jobs in the UK. With the lockdown, financial firms struggle to cope with the plummeting global economy. Because of this, the hiring of additional employees slowed down significantly. However, not even the pandemic can completely halt the recruitment of qualified talents.

As the Government sets its roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions, more and more finance firms are getting ready for economic recovery. This optimism results in a growing demand for individuals skilled in economics, trading, investment banking, business development, sales processes, risk management, and credit analysis. According to LinkedIn, job postings for the financial sector are higher by 82 percent compared to last year. Firms are scouring for investment bankers, finance specialists, treasurers, regulatory experts, equity traders, and other financial professionals

Construction

The Government has given the construction sector the green light to carry on with its operations amidst strict lockdown restrictions.  As long as project sites adhere to COVID secure guidelines, they can stay open along with manufacturing factories and supermarkets.

According to LinkedIn, job posts for the industry were up by 123 percent from last year.  Employers are looking for masons, bricklayers, site specialists, construction specialists, and construction site managers.  The growth in vacancies signifies that construction is enjoying robust growth while other sectors are suffering economically. 

It is also worth noting that housebuilding is the most in-demand construction service as the number of UK homeowners applying for home extensions and improvements continues to rise.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here