Job trends

We are now in a recession, as a result of the global financial crisis. There are normally job losses during a recession. As you prepare to make your career decision, you are most likely to be asking how severe will the recession be and when it ends - what skills will be useful and most in demand?

Information on job trends and employment forecasts is usually based on historical data. This means it will be some time before accurate information is available. There have already been some attempts to identify those industries most at risk. Experts predict that jobs will be lost in manufacturing, retail, finance, hotel and catering, construction with property, renting and other business services also expected to be affected. It is very difficult, however, to predict the exact size of the change in these sectors.

In the meantime, the following key trends are our most up to date information on changes in the types of jobs available and in the way people work.

The jobs people do

Over the last 25 years the types of jobs that people do in Scotland has changed.

Fewer new jobs in manufacturing.
More jobs within service industries; four out of every five employees in Scotland work in the service sector.

The level of skills employers look for is changing

There are now more jobs which need higher level of skills.
There are still a number of jobs that require few or no skills; particularly in hotels and restaurants and wholesale and retail. However, the numbers of jobs that need lower skill levels are expected to decline.
Find out how to update your existing skills at Upgrade your skills

Other trends?

Most people are in full-time, permanent jobs.
The number of part-time jobs has increased in recent years but in addition to rather than as a replacement for full-time jobs.
Job openings requiring new employees arise both from economic growth and from the need to replace people who leave employment.
Most future jobs growth is expected to be in education, health and social work.
The more qualifications a person has; the better they are paid and less likely to be unemployed.

Have jobs become more insecure in terms of contract and hours?

It doesn't seem so. The average length of time a Scottish employee has spent with their current employer is 8.3 years.
In 2006 basic working hours (excluding overtime) were 37 hours. Almost unchanged from the figure in 1998.

Women in the job market

A little more than half of all employees in Scotland are female.
Women work fewer hours than men; 85 per cent of male employees work full-time compared to 52 per cent of female employees.
On average, women's earnings are 89 per cent of men's.
Scotland's gender pay gap is closing faster than anywhere else in the UK.
Significant gender pay gaps still exist in the skilled trades and elementary occupations.

What else should you know about to make the right decision for you?

Careers Scotland can help develop your career management skills - check out Positive Steps to your future

You might want to find out more about the changes in the types of jobs available and in the way people work. Or if you are a parent, find out how things have changed since you were at school - take our Job Trends quiz.