Has the pandemic forced you to rethink your career? From digital content to mental health services, here are 15 fast-growing sectors that are hiring

  • Pandemic has hit jobs hard, but 15 sectors are rapidly growing 
  • E-commerce, healthcare and construction all want to hire more staff fast 
  • This is Money spoke to Nick Levene and Lorna Smith about their success stories 
  • Email jane.denton@mailonline.co.uk if you've switched careers during Covid The pandemic has turned the working lives of millions of people in Britain upside-down, with job losses and redundancies rife and livelihoods and income streams wiped out in a matter of months.

    Last week, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned that unemployment figures are likely to be worse than documented, with around 2.2million people already out of work.

    Losing a job and having to pick yourself up and start again can be tough, but there is a string of sectors where demand for new workers is growing, giving hope to those who need to find a new career path through no fault of their own.

    Opportunities: From games development to care for the elderly, there's a job for everyone

    Opportunities: From games development to care for the elderly, there's a job for everyone

    Online jobs and networking site LinkedIn says there are 15 sectors where demand for workers is highest. Their new findings also reveal where in the country most of these job posts are cropping up.Not every job available will be everyone's idea of a dream role, and salaries and working hours may be fixed or more flexible, but at a time when so many jobs have been lost, these sectors are providing a lifeline for people who need to get their careers and livelihoods back on track.

    Here are the fastest growing sectors job hunters should take a closer look at now:

    1. E-commerce 

    With swathes of bricks-and-mortar retailers shut for months on end in the past year, it is no surprise that online shopping has surged in popularity. The site of delivery vans being driven up and down the streets has become a staple of pandemic life to a degree not seen before.

    Looking for inspiration? Read Nick's story 

    Nick Levene says job hunters should stay hopeful

    Nick Levene says job hunters should stay hopeful

    It is no secret that the retail sector has been hammered by the pandemic, but even in this sector there are still opportunities for resilient job hunters.

    Nick Levene, 54, lives near Romford in Essex and enjoyed working in various managerial roles for Dixons Carphone since 2006.

    But, in August last year he found out his job was at risk as Dixons Carphone planned to streamline its management. Nick ended up being made redundant. 

    Nick became a single father of a five-year-old daughter after his wife died from a form of blood poisoning called necrotising fasciitis in 2011. Over the next few years, he also lost his father, mother and mother-in-law. 

    So, last year, with a young daughter to look after and no job, Nick took to LinkedIn.

    Nick told This is Money: 'Strangely after being made redundant I felt quite determined and began to blitz the job market.

    He added: 'I would look at my daughter and double my efforts to give her the best quality life I could manage.'

    Nick posted a heartfelt message on LinkedIn explaining what had happened to him during his life and why anyone looking for a job had to stay hopeful.

    The LinkedIn post went viral and was viewed 4.5million times. 

    It attracted thousands of comments, and, one of them came from Austin Cooke, a director at Poundland. Nick ended up being hired by Poundland as a manager at one of its stores.

    Nick's gritty determination and ambition in the face of adversity shows that there is hope for every job hunter out there. 

    Nick told This is Money: 'My advice to people is be unconventional and be human, it shows the real you that can never be seen on an application.'
     

    Nick Levene's post on LinkedIn during lockdown went viral

    Nick Levene's post on LinkedIn during lockdown went viral

    Hiring for e-commerce roles has rocketed by 143 per cent in the last year compared to the previous year, LinkedIn's latest findings show.

    As well as delivery drivers, warehouse workers for order picking and packaging are also in high demand, and a growing number of employers are also on the lookout for warehouse managers to oversee their burgeoning operations.

    Get delivering: Hiring for e-commerce roles has rocketed by 143%  in the last year

    Get delivering: Hiring for e-commerce roles has rocketed by 143%  in the last year

    Recruiters at Manpower UK told This is Money they have seen 'record' numbers of job postings in this area in the last few months. 

    Businesses like Ocado, Amazon, DPS and Hermes have been working flat out to ensure the nation gets their online shopping delivered in a timely manner, and all have been on a hiring spree.

    Current hotspots for e-commerce roles are Birmingham, Northampton, Manchester and Leicester.

    2. Healthcare support

    The central role healthcare and healthcare support workers play in our society has become startlingly clear during the pandemic.

    In the past year, LinkedIn saw a 104 per cent increase in the number of healthcare support jobs being posted on its website.

    In-demand jobs in this profession include home care jobs, healthcare assistants, health and wellbeing coaches and medical writers.

    If you are after jobs in this area of important work, Manchester and Oxford have a high number of opportunities for job hunters at present, according to LinkedIn.

    3. Digital content

    With people spending so much time at home, there is growing demand for online content used to inform or entertain.

    There here has been a marked upturn in the number of employers looking for bloggers, podcasters, 'Youtubers' and content writers. 

    A fair few of these roles are available on a freelance basis, and could be a good option for anyone looking for a more flexible working life. 

    In the past year, LinkedIn has seen 118 per cent increase in the number of jobs posted in this line of work on its website.

    Many of these roles can be done via home working, but Birmingham, London and Manchester are notable hotspots for digital content roles at the moment.

    4. Construction

    During the current lockdown, the construction sector has been given the green light by the Government to keep grafting. 

    And, over the past few months the sector has been on a hiring spree, with the number of posts available via LinkedIn in this sector up 123 per cent in the past year. 

    Get building: The construction sector is a hive of activity at the moment

    Get building: The construction sector is a hive of activity at the moment

    Housebuilding has been a notable bright spot in the jobs world in recent times, and while other key sectors of the economy like services have been left floundering, construction is enjoying strong growth.

    In-demand roles include site mangers, site workers and brick layers.

    Anyone looking for a new role in this sector should consider construction hotspots in London, Birmingham and Manchester, according to the findings.

    5. Creative opportunities

    With many businesses looking to bolster their online presence, there has been a marked upturn in the number of employers looking for writers, editors, illustrators and even voice over artists in the last few months. Many of the jobs available in this area are freelance roles, LinkedIn said.

    Again, London, Manchester and Birmingham seem to be bright spots for job hunters with creative ambitions.

    6. Finance and banking

    The business of money never goes away, even during a pandemic, and many high-end finance firms are looking to get more staff on board to help get their deals done.

    A growing number of firms are looking to hire investment bankers, equity traders, financial service and regulatory professionals and other niche finance specialists. 

    Back to banking: The business of money never goes away, even during a pandemic

    Back to banking: The business of money never goes away, even during a pandemic

    The number of jobs cropping up in the finance sector has risen by 82 per cent in the past year, LinkedIn's data shows.

    The financial hub of London is a great place to look for a new job in finance, as are cities like Manchester and Liverpool.

    7. Specialist medical roles

    The pressure on the NHS during the pandemic has been well-documented. Job posts for intensive care nurse surged by 155 per cent in the past year, while certified care nurse vacancies swelled by 133 per cent.

    There are also a myriad of behind-the-scenes roles available in the world of medicine, all playing a vital role in making our health system operate smoothly and efficiently.

    In demand: Job posts for laboratory scientists increased by 68% in the past year

    In demand: Job posts for laboratory scientists increased by 68% in the past year

    Job posts for laboratory scientists increased by 68 per cent in the past year and demand for laboratory assistants has risen a whopping 156 per cent. Pharmaceutical and research roles are also in high demand among employers.

    Demand for specialist medical roles is high in many parts of the country, but most notably in Glasgow, Birmingham, London and Manchester.

    8. Professional coaching

    After a year of hefty job losses across multiple industries, many people have opted to take the plunge and train up for new careers in areas like professional coaching.

    Job posts on LinkedIn for roles like life coaches, leadership coaches and business coaches increased by 101 per cent in the past year.

    I'm now a life coach after my cabin crew job was put on hold

    Lorna Smith now makes a real difference to her client's lives

    Lorna Smith now makes a real difference to her client's lives 

    Lorna Smith, 36, from West Sussex, enjoyed a 15-year careers in human resources, before deciding to switch careers last year.

    Lorna had a job lined up as cabin crew in the aviation sector, but, due to coronavirus, two weeks before she was due to start, the company told her the new post was 'on hold' indefinitely.

    Lorna told This is Money: 'I had a range of emotions when my job was put on hold. Of course I totally understood given the circumstances but I was devastated especially because I was only about two weeks away from starting my training and I was really excited. 

    'I was also scared as I have sole responsibility for a mortgage and household expenses and I felt vulnerable financially.' 

    Lorna took a massive leap of faith and decided to start her own business, setting up ESTeam Coaching. 

    As a certified confidence and mindset coach and a life coach, Lorna helps women to create a life they’re excited to wake up for every day. 

    She also has some great advice for anyone who has lost their job and is feeling low.

    'Firstly, I would say that it's okay to feel low. Acknowledge and process the emotions and don't be afraid to ask for support. Don't close yourself off from friends and family. Connection is important.

    'Do one thing each day that you enjoy (e.g. go for a walk, watch your favourite programme, listen to your favourite music etc).

    'Look at it as an opportunity to make a positive change. It doesn't have to be anything big or overwhelming, small steps all add up.

    'Write a list of all your strengths and achievements to build your self-esteem and confidence (and if you're struggling, ask your friends and family what they love about you).

    'Most importantly, don't give up. You are stronger than you know.'  


    Sheffield, Cardiff, Nottingham and Birmingham have seen the biggest jump in opportunities in this area of work in the past year, according to LinkedIn.

    9. Social media and digital marketing

    Standing out online is tough and businesses up and down the country are on the lookout for experts in social media and marketing to help drive up sales and ensure their products or services appeal to as many customers as possible.

    There was an increase in demand for roles such as 'Growth Hacker', 'Growth Specialist', 'Marketing Consultant', 'Social Media Manager' and 'Social Media Coordinator' in recent months, all of which focus on innovative alternatives to traditional marketing.

    Belfast, London and Manchester are all hotspots for jobs in this sector at the moment.

    10. Customer service

    A significant number of businesses have boosted their online capacity in the past year, dealing with more customers and sales than ever before.

    With this in mind, it is no surprise that there has been a 54 per cent rise in the number of customer service vacancies posted via LinkedIn in the past year.

    Roles with titles including 'Customer Service Consultant;', 'Customer Service Adviser' and 'Customer Support Specialist' are all in in demand.

    Jobs in this area require people with patience, empathy and problem solving skills. 

    In terms of customer service job hotspots, Newcastle, London and Manchester all have a high number of opportunities for job hunters at present, LinkedIn said.

    11. Education

    The education sector has been thrown into sharp focus in the past year, with teachers, pupils and university students all shifting to online learning for prolonged periods.

    Get teaching: The education sector has been thrown into sharp focus in the past year

    Get teaching: The education sector has been thrown into sharp focus in the past year

    Job vacancies in the education sector rose by 53 per cent in the last year and 63 per cent of total hires were women, LinkedIn said.

    Maths and English tutors are in particularly high demand, and across the sector, the highest number of roles can be found in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

    12. Mental health

    The pandemic has had a negative effect on many people's mental health and employer demand for workers in this area is growing rapidly, with consultations often conducted virtually or on the phone.

    In 2020, there was a 44 per cent rise in job vacancies searching for specialists in mental health.

    Roles for clinical psychologists, mental health counsellors, mental health practitioners, occupational therapists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists and psychotherapists are all in high demand. 

    Having training in areas like cognitive behavioural therapy can be helpful for getting a job in this area of work.

    Jobs in the sector require applicants with compassion, empathy, patience and excellent people skills, and some will require extensive medical training and qualifications.

    London, Birmingham and Manchester all have high numbers of vacancies for mental health specialists.

    13. Property

    The property sector was shut down in the early stages of the pandemic, but is now operating relatively normally in most areas.

    After the Chancellor launched a stamp duty holiday in July, there has been a 'mini boom' in the property market, with estate agents, sellers and buyers rushing to complete. 

    As such, job postings for agents, property consultants and other experts in this area rose over 60 per cent in the past year.

    Chelmsford, Oxford, London and Manchester all have a high number of job vacancies available in this line of work, LinkedIn said.

    14. Specialist engineers

    LinkedIn thinks experts in highly specialised engineering roles have 'pandemic-proof' careers.

    Software engineers, game designers and developers, back-end engineers and reliability engineers are all in high demand now. Job posts in this sector on LinkedIn have risen by 45 per cent in the last year. 

    Hiring hotspots for this line of are include Liverpool, London and Manchester.

    15. Artificial intelligence

    Job posts involving artificial intelligence climbed over 40 per cent last year, and have been growing in the last few years. A lot of big-name companies are hiring AI specialists to help them evolve their online businesses and understand how their customers work.

    Growth area: Job posts involving artificial intelligence climbed over 40%  last year

    Growth area: Job posts involving artificial intelligence climbed over 40%  last year

    Employers are often on the lookout for 'machine learning' engineers and researchers. 

    Cambridge, London and Manchester are hotspots on the AI jobs front at present, according to LinkedIn.

Five steps to help you achieve a career change during lockdown

A growing number of people have been forced or simply want to switch careers entirely during the pandemic.

This can be daunting, but Charlotte Davies, a careers expert at LinkedIn, has exclusively provided This is Money with five helpful tips to help you on your way:

1. Don't think you have to tick every box

If you’re considering moving into an entirely new role, think about the transferable skills that you have and how they could be applied to something else, rather than worrying about not having the exact experience required. 

It will be important to highlight these skills to prospective employers and recruiters. 

You can find new roles that might be a good match for your existing skills. 

2. Use your connections 

We’ve seen many examples on LinkedIn during the pandemic of our members sharing difficult personal experiences about losing their jobs, and finding new opportunities as a result. 

It might sound scary, but my advice to anyone looking to find a new role is to be brave in telling your story because you never know who will see it and help you out. 

You can signal to your network that you’re open to new opportunities through the ‘Open to Work’ feature. Tapping into the people you know and their extended networks can often lead to an invaluable helping hand, whether it be advice, support, or a new job opportunity.

3. Refresh your LinkedIn profile

Be sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date to stand out to recruiters. 

LinkedIn members with a profile photo have 21 times more views and up to nine times more connection requests than members who don’t have one. 

Don’t forget to include a short summary of your background and highlight your key skills - people who list more than five skills on their LinkedIn profile are 27 times more likely to be discovered in searches by recruiters.

4. Sharpen your skills 

It’s easy to lose confidence in yourself after losing a job. 

It can also feel daunting to start applying for entirely new roles when you may not have the exact experience or skills required. 

Know that you’re not alone and there are many free resources out there that can help you, with everything from how to make your CV stand out, to how you can ace the virtual job interview. 

Spending time enhancing your existing skills or learning new ones can boost your confidence and help you stand out to prospective employers. 

In addition to nearly 1,000 hours of free learning courses from Microsoft and LinkedIn available at opportunity.linkedin.com that can help you sharpen your skills, we’ve also made available for free the top LinkedIn Learning courses that people in the UK took last year before they got hired: Expert Tips for Answering Common Interview Questions, CV Success Master Class, Developing Your Professional Image, Business Analysis Foundations and Success Habits.

5. Ace the virtual interview 

In the current climate, you should be prepared for a virtual interview. 

The hardest part of this is establishing a connection with the interviewer. Be sure to use the first few minutes of the call to build a personal connection, and put yourself at ease. 

Choose a quiet location and don’t be afraid to position yourself with a backdrop that tells the interviewer a little something about you.

There’s also a range of tools available on LinkedIn to help you brush up on your interview skills - including a new AI feedback feature that you can use to practice your answers and get helpful pointers before the real thing.

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