UK’s most sought-after job industries revealed 

Data from over 15.4m applications made by Brits sees construction and administration take top spots

New analysis of job application data in the UK has revealed the industries that Brits are most keen to get a job within; with the administration, construction and engineering sectors featured in the top spots.

The research also looked at the industries that have become increasingly applied for in the first six months of the year across 17 UK cities¹, comparing application data from the same period in 2016.

Conducted by leading independent job board CV-Library, the research is comprised of data from over 8.2 million job applications made between January to June 2017.

Further analysis with average salary data from June 2017 suggests that higher wages have not influenced those sectors with increased job applications. In fact, the majority of popular industries boast similar wages to that of the UK average salary, £27,271, as reported by the ONS.

The sectors with increased job applications in London include²:

1. Charity sector: Applications up 25% with an average salary of £26,913
2. Management sector: Applications up 25% with an average salary of £39,970
3. Telecoms sector: Applications up 23% with an average salary of £35,461

The sectors with increased job applications in Manchester include:

1. Distribution sector: Applications up 52% with an average salary of £28,186
2. Consulting sector: Applications up 29% with an average salary of £39,514
3. Manufacturing/Surveyingsector: Applications up 25% with an average salary of £29,315

The sectors with increased job applications in Edinburgh include:

1. Customer Service sector: Applications up 66% with an average salary of £21,825
2. Manufacturing/Surveying sector: Applications up 25% with an average salary of £29,315
3. Personnel/Recruitment sector: Applications up 37% with an average salary of £28,252

The sectors with increased job applications in Leeds include:

1. Management sector: Applications up 73% with an average salary of £39,970
2. Social Care sector: Applications up 18% with an average salary of £27,438
3. Manufacturing/Surveying sector: Applications up 13% with an average salary of £29,315

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library comments:

“Competition for jobs is definitely heating up and it’s clear that certain sectors are thriving in key cities across the UK. So, if you’re looking for a new role in any of these industries, it might be worth considering what you can do to stand out from the crowd and ensure your CV and cover letter really hit the mark when applying for roles.”

Rebecca Clarke

[email protected]

Rebecca joined the HRreview editorial team in January 2016. After graduating from the University of Sheffield Hallam in 2013 with a BA in English Literature, Rebecca has spent five years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past she has been part of the editorial teams at Sleeper and Dezeen and has founded her own arts collective.

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