What is the labour/recruitment market like in your industry?

[Lolingokay]

Obviously COVID caused a severe recession and there was high unemployment. I saw far less vacancies being advertised and many people taking jobs they were overqualified for, and ones where they would have deserved higher pay given their skills level.

Yet I've heard people say it's an employee's market now, there are so many vacancies and not enough people to fill these jobs. Apparently companies are really struggling to recruit people and are willing to hire people that only meet about half or two-thirds of the job description criteria.

I understand this may be the case for jobs like lorry driving, construction etc (which were mainly filled by Europeans who have now left). But is this really the case in professional industries, and if so, which ones? I'm interested in hearing about any industry but particularly thinking about consulting, policy, research etc. And what would the reasons be?

@Hrpuffnstuff1

Companies are going to have to do better than the odd staff ball, vouchers and Xmas jumper day. We've had wage suppression for well over a decade, the pandemic has released this bind. People want Flexibility. Higher renumeration. WFH. Reasonable hours.

They've also realized they may now actually be able to participate in life outside of the workplace culture, less commuting as made this a reality.

Mrs HR has had a 20% increase in salary in order to stop her leaving. Although she's still considering leaving for a better work-life-balance.

This is exactly it. Science industry, based in SE, niche area, lucky in the past as we are attracted good scientists based on our campus feel site, only company in the country in this sector etc. Pay has been low for years, but it's now backfiring. Staff with transferable skills jumping for higher pay in other sectors, and we can't recruit as a entry level temp in a Covid lab is going to earn more than our entry level roles that require a lot of experience and living in an expensive part of the country. Company is in total denial though

I work in agricultural sales, we really struggle to recruit as does the agricultural sector in general

OH works in IT, he says it's easy to recruit but there is a shortage of people that are actually good

@namechange2

So how do you ‘get in’ to cyber security as a mature career changer? I am interested in on the job training but would do something to get me started. Any suggestions?

@MmeSosostris I got in via the public sector, areas like the civil service often have apprenticeship schemes or are more keen on "behaviours" and aptitude than qualifications and will take you on at a lower grade and then pay to train you up. I managed to get into the CS as an SEO so a relatively good salary in a related compliance role and slowly empire built to justify more courses in that area. I'm not a tech bod, more policy, Google SANS courses. CS in particular are doing a huge push for more security staff, if you can get in even as a generalist it should be relatively easy to get into a digital role (once in, more roles are available). If you really want the money you can then go into the private sector but I'm obviously not vouching for that ha, I love the sector I'm in so will take the salary cut for the context I work in.

Teacher. Senior role. I’m getting out soon and have a new job to go to outside the sector. It has been very hard to recruit any TAs and any quality teachers. The calibre of trainee teachers is woeful compared to previous years. It’s the fault of pay freezes and the media/government disrespect and parental hatred during the pandemic on top of the destruction of the national pay scale and the ruination of pay and conditions in academies.