How is the financial crisis affecting the job market in the UK?

[Shitemum]

I live abroad but am hoping to move back to the UK, after a very long absence, next year.

Is it harder to get a job at the moment or is it just harder to live on the wage of the job you have?

Depends on what market/field you're in, too.

all depends what you do. if you work in the City or are an estate agent, bad time to get hired. most other things, not much difference yet. the one thing is i think many firms are hiring temps or agency workers where it once would have been permanent staff

if you're in the fishing industry, that sucks just now.

I think there is a lack of confidence about at the moment, most people are waiting to see what happens. That said, I live in London and so my thoughts might not be the same for the rest of the country. I do not think that the credit crunch is the whole issue though inflation and rising fuel costs are also on peoples and businesses minds as well.
What job field are you looking at and what area of the UK?

Thanks, I am not very well qualified, tho have over 15 yrs experience in retail (self-employed) so could work in different fields...am used to being fairly frugal but am worried about getting work at all...

Edinburgh

Anyone else want to offer their insight?

Apparently Edinburgh's doing really well at the mo', SM, and house prices remain bouyant!

expat - i'm glad to hear that! Except there's no way we'll be buying a house...

jajas - Hmm, if they appreciate my energy, ideas and iniciative I don't mind working at Lidl in some capacity, was hoping to aim a little higher tho

Lidl was paying £9+/hour in Edinburgh last we heard.

Is that good or bad? Have no idea about wages in UK...

Must be bad, cleaners are around 8.50 euros and hour here....

that's not a bad wage for retail at all, SM.

considering most pay around £6/hour.

But do you mean filling shelves or working on the check-out? What about managing a smallish shop, what might that pay? {clueless}

jajas - yes it's the same in Spain. Trouble is I've been self-employed for so long that I don't really know what it's like working for someone else and having a fixed wage...

People who work in Lidl are expected to perform both functions, SM, well, all functions except management. DH's best mate works in Lidl.