Several factors affect the need for certain skills in the job market. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the economy, with restaurants, theatres and construction as the hardest-hit businesses. The consequences to the economy have, in turn, an effect on which jobs are most desirable. We’ve looked specifically at what skilled trades are currently in demand in the UK and what jobs will be most coveted in 2021.
What Is A Skilled Trade?
Skilled trades are specialisms that require a particular set of skills, knowledge and experience. Various training routes lead to a skilled trade, including college and apprenticeships. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) describes the nature of qualifications of skilled trade occupations as “a substantial period of training, often provided by means of a work-based training programme.” It lists four main categories of skilled trades divided by sector:
- Agricultural trades, such as farming, landscaping and groundskeeping
- Metal, electrical and electronic trades
- Construction and building trades, including plumbers, electricians and bricklayers
- Textiles, printing and other skilled trades
Workers experienced in these trades are often highly sought after in their industry. While trades are generally always needed, it can be useful for workers entering an industry — or considering changing careers — to have an idea of what trades are in demand in the UK.
What Makes A Trade Be In Demand?
A trade is considered in demand if there are more jobs available than suitable candidates to fill them. Construction is a good example of an industry facing a skills shortage as a result of an ageing workforce. As many workers in the construction industry reach retirement age, there simply aren’t enough workers to fill all the roles that become vacant.
New and specialist skills can make a trade highly sought after. As industries like construction and engineering modernise and implement new technologies, companies will want to hire workers who have experience in these new areas. Workers not using the latest technology and materials can hinder future opportunities, so staying ahead of industry trends and standards is a great way to remain competitive — for candidates and employers alike.
New initiatives can also influence the skillsets considered desirable by employers. For example, as industries strive for a more sustainable future, opportunities in solar energy, wind technicians and solar panel installation will increase. There has been a growing concern that automation will result in fewer jobs for people of skilled trades. But, a Nesta report forecasting the future of skills and employment in 2030 gives evidence to the contrary, with only one-fifth of the workforce currently in occupations that will shrink as a result of automation. Their findings suggest that while automation is inevitable in some job roles, it presents opportunities for job redesign and skill upgrading in many others.
Location of a job opportunity can also significantly affect its demand. Employers trying to hire within their local community can often face difficulty in finding qualified candidates who live within commutable distance. Equally, qualified skilled tradespeople may not find a huge amount of vacancies local to them. This map demonstrates the skills shortage and demand by region and shows that welding opportunities are hugely in demand, with 96% above average in the North West compared to Scotland, which has 40% fewer welding vacancies than the national average.
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What Trades Are In Demand In The UK?
Manual trades such as plumbers, electricians, mechanics and construction workers were all in high demand in 2020 and will continue to be desirable skillsets to employers in the future. Statistics show that in the next five years an additional 15 thousand electricians will be needed to fill the increasing number of vacancies in the industry. Carpenters and joiners are also in the top 20 jobs most likely to be in demand in the next 15 years.
We are seeing an increase in the demand for more niche roles, as finding a candidate with very specific qualifications can prove difficult for employers. For example, job websites report a shortage of engineers applying for roles in mechanical and geoscience engineering. This is happening as opportunities in these areas increase, and the number of vacancies far exceeds the number of qualified engineers.
Maintenance technicians also represent a growing job market — and one that is not at risk of automation. As technology inevitably replaces some current manual roles across all industries, there will always be a need for experienced maintenance engineers to ensure the smooth running of these new technologies. As computerised software evolves, there will be an increased need for well-versed workers in those technologies, and there is no limit to the number of sectors this is relevant in. From transport and aerospace to electronics and IT, government agencies and armed forces, the number of job vacancies for maintenance technicians will continue to grow.
As a CHAS contractor, being highly qualified will make you a desirable candidate for potential construction projects. CHAS clients get exclusive access to a portal of pre-accredited contractors to avoid costly delays in finding suitable workers.
