Very general question about the current job market in Scotland....

[Shitemum]

I am moving back to Edinburgh next year after 18 years away. I'm worried about finding work, any work. I've read that Scotland has had record low unemployment figures this year but now they are creeping up again. How easy is it to get a job in retail (manager) or admin these days? Are many people being laid off?
Sorry to generalise, I know it depends on many factors, am trying to get a general feel of the mood and peoples' expectations...

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So, nobody in Scotland on here tonight?

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I wish I could help you but I think it is a so-so picture like every where else.

I don't know if it is of any use but here is a link to the Scotsman. You can see for yourself the jobs/ political climate here.

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Hi Shitemum (great name BTW)
Hard to say what'll happen next year, what with the economy and all. Also retail and some other sectors struggling at the moment throughout the country.
Have a look at www.s1jobs.com to give you an indication of what's happening at the moment. Might look quite quiet though as usually is in the run up to Christmas.
S1jobs will let you see which local agencies recruit on behalf of the administrative and retail sectors so might be an idea to make contact with them/submit your CV to these particular agencies. The Herald on a Friday and the Scotsman also hold vacs. Think you'll be able to access these online.
Good luck.

Thanks everyone! Will check out the links and newspaper ads etc
I don't have a degree but have been successfully self-employed for 15 years in retail. I'm hoping that since I'm not expecting to get a great job I will find an ok one.
I think I'll probably have to end up doing several part time jobs at once and relying on my relatives wits...

Oh God, I don't know wether to laugh or cry - I checked out the jobs in retail and the first one I clicked on was assistant manager at...Greggs!
Should I take this as a sign, an omen or something?

{wonders if i would get to take home the left over sausage rolls and would it be enough to keep the family from starving...?}

I think it is mainly Building companies etc it has hit worse.

I know of somewhere in Edinburgh where they usually loking for Supervisor/Admin workers.

Possibly a Charity who are opening up a few centres around Edinburgh.

think of children then think of Charities.

hth

abloke - that is somewhat cryptic! will try and decipher!

charity shop would do me fine, have background in antiques/bric a brac. but would probably buy most of stock myself, am, addicted to charity shops...

There might be a few jobs that come up after the New Year. Some people tend to take the scunner just after Hogmanay and jack in their jobs or look around for new ones.

Are you moving back fairly early in the year or later?

friend of mine works here .They are opening up Chil-line, they have bases here there everywhere around scotland [crosses everything oh does not read this]............ it was formerly only in Glasgow.]

shitemum,
Sausage rolls, custard doughnuts and steak bakes a plenty. Beats pens, envelopes and paperclips!!
As was said earlier, bad time just before Christmas as employers and employees often wait for the new year to jump ship/advertise.
I'm sure there's something great waiting for you in Edinburgh.

I scan the Herald (west coast) jobs every week and there are def loads of admin jobs on the go, not so much retail managers.

Job market always seems to drop off end of Nov/ Dec. Picks up again in Jan.

There are quite a few scottish job sites like S1 jobs and the job centre site has more of your entry level to mid range admin jobs. NHS always seem to be looking for admin staff, not sure what level you are looking for though.

Thanks everyone!

Am not moving back till July next year but starting to worry prepare now.
Skrimbo - I have really always been self-employed or teaching EFL so I don't really know what kind of job to look for, I mean I don't know what the job I could do is even called! I feel silly and amateur.

jUST START TRAWLING AND SEE WHAT JUMPS OUT. sorry caps, reading the person requirements might start to narrow things down, but i know what mean its hard to match your skills to different jobs.

thanks,
am a bit worried about the wages, hoping to keep on our house in Spain but it has a huge mortgage. Most of the jobs im looking at would barely cover it. Between DP and I we can only do 1 1/2 jobs as DD2 will not start nursery till january 2010.... and then its only a couple of hours a morning. How do people manage? (My DDs get 6 hours a day of practically free nursery here...)

i don't manage , never found the holy grail of a job that starts at 9 and finishes at 3pm, doesn,t get easier once they are at school. No after school club either and until very recently no chilminders . not all areas are likethis.

But not not all after school clubs are suitible for younger children really can be full on.

Hi Shitemum!

I have not long moved to Edinburgh so felt I should reply with having first hand experience! It is hard to find a job (I am looking for admin) at the mo but I am hoping it is just because it is near xmas. I have applied for loads but alot of the deadlines are not till the first week in Jan so fingers crossed. I am only looking for p/t
work to keep the cost of childcare down.

The one thing I have noticed is that cost of childcare is quite expensive compared to the rate of pay but I know there is a job out there with my name on it (positive thinking and it may take a few months of pulling my hair out!)
I know the recession is affecting everywhere but there does seem to be fewer jobs out there in Edinburgh!