Is this the new normal? 2022 was a whirlwind year for every sector and recruitment hasn’t been spared. As we adapt to our new ways of working and the changing demands of a constantly developing working landscape, we’re taking a look at which sectors are crying out for staff. Whatever your requirements, Spotlight Recruitment can assist in finding you the best talent in marketing, digital and communications.
It’s been a booming time for vacancies in all sectors, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showing the number of vacancies increased by 318,000, with all industry sectors above or equal to the levels seen in the three months before the UK’s first lockdown. It’s certainly a good time to be looking for a job. The UK’s employment rate was up 0.5 percentage points to 75.3%, while the unemployment rate was down 0.4 percentage points to 4.5%.
The ONS compares industry sectors using a measure of vacancies per 100 employee jobs. For every hundred employees in the sector, they’re interested in the number of vacancies.
Unsurprisingly, the hospitality and retail sector tops the list. These were the sectors hardest hit in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, with closures and restrictions having dramatic effects on staff requirements. Figures showed that there were 1.5 vacancies per 100 employees in the accommodation and food services sector between July and September 2020, rising to 5.9 between July and September this year.
But what about marketing? The information and communications sector has also seen a hefty jump in vacancies, from 1.7 to 4.9. Digital roles in marketing are among the fastest growing in the industry, with demand for social media jobs and skills increasing at the highest rate. This can be attributed to the change in consumer habits following the pandemic.
According to Marketing Week, the key marketing skills in demand include:
- Paid social media
- Ad serving
- Analytics
- Social media advertising
- Marketing consulting
- Content marketing
- Web content writing
Given this focus on digital skills, and in particular social, it follows that the top three fastest-rising jobs are all in social media, with social media coordinator increasing by 19%, community manager up by 18.1% and social media assistant up by 16.5%.
If you’re looking for your next role or seeking out the best talent for your vacancy, we can help. Spotlight Recruitment has been connecting the brightest candidates with the best companies since 2008.