<h2>Overview of the labour market in Manchester</h2>
<p>The good news is that the labour market in Greater Manchester is continuing to recover; so says the Office for National Statistics. For the third quarter of 2014, the unemployment standing in the United Kingdom stands at six per cent, which has reduced from six and three-tenths percent from the second quarter. The year previous, the unemployment rate was at seven and six-tenths percent. Currently, full-time employment is increasing relatively rapidly. The average earnings figures have even moved up to one and three-tenths percent. This is a rate that is just a bit above the inflation rate. In more than five years this is the first real-terms pay increase. This same good news for the United Kingdom generally also translates to Greater Manchester in particular. The positive evidence can be seen in the overall Jobseeker's Allowance claimant count; it is forty lower than it was a year ago and has dropped to under forty-two thousand (42,000) in just a single month. This is a stark six and three-tenths percent drop from the previous month. The figure is actually the lowest it has been since late 2007, which is before the recession began. The figures in Greater Manchester show a larger decrease than do the figures nationally. The overall rate is at two and four-tenths percent in Greater Manchester, which is still a bit higher than that of the United Kingdom, which is two and two-tenths percent.</p>
<p>As the labour market in Greater Manchester has continued to improve, the result is the vacancy rates are now closer to the pre-recession high. This means that employers are going to experience greater pressure when trying to find candidates (job seekers) with the right skills to fit their needs. Companies will be competing hard for the right people to fill the available positions; this places further pressure on pay rewards. On the other hand, the labour force will benefit from this recovery and will support their entrance into employment throughout the coming months. Companies looking to find the right people will be turning to <a href="https://www.randstad.co.uk/job-seeker/our-offices/recruitment-agencies-…; target="_blank">recruitment consultants in Greater Manchester</a> to help them find the right candidates for the open positions. Candidates will also be looking to work with recruiters to find the best available opportunities for them.<br></p>
<p>Skills that employers are demanding in Manchester<br>
The projection of skills that are and will be in demand in Greater Manchester over the next decade are as follows (in descending order ): <br><br>
• financial and professional services<br>
• life sciences<br>
• construction<br>
• education<br>
• retail<br>
• creative / digital / new media<br>
• hospitality and tourism<br>
• ICT digital and communications<br>
• logistics<br>
• manufacturing<br>
• sport<br>
• public sector<br>
• automotive<br>
• aviation </p>
<p>Over the past year, job vacancies have been most available in the following occupations in decreasing order:</p>
<p>• professional<br>
• associate professional and technical <br>
• administrative and secretarial <br>
• sales and customer service <br>
• skilled trades occupations<br>
• care<br>
• leisure and other service occupations<br>
• elementary occupations</p>
<p>The skills that are most in demand in Manchester as advertised in vacancies are as follows in descending order of demand: </p>
<p>• common skills - communication and coordination<br>
• common skills - business environment skills<br>
• common skills - problem-solving<br>
• IT - programming, development, and engineering<br>
• IT - web design and technologies<br>
• common skills - project and process flow skills<br>
• sales – general<br>
• IT - databases and data warehousing<br>
• finance - accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation<br>
• customer service - basic assistance<br>
• marketing – general<br>
• IT - business intelligence<br>
• admin support – general<br>
• digital media and design - tech development and design<br>
• digital media and design - digital strategy<br>
• business - process and planning<br>
• legal – general<br>
• IT - network administration and security<br>
• common skills – language<br>
• supply chain and logistics – general<br>
• finance - basic financial transactions<br>
• IT - software testing<br>
• IT - operating systems<br>
• digital media and design - visual and graphic design<br>
• repair - general</p>
<p>Future job growth in Manchester</p>
<h3>In Greater Manchester it is estimated that an additional one hundred thousand jobs will be created.</h3>
<p>Approximately thirty-nine percent of those jobs are expected in Manchester alone. This means thirty-nine thousand new jobs for Manchester over the ten-year period. Manchester jobs to be created are listed below by sector:<br><br>
• professional, scientific and technical activities<br>
• administrative and support services activities<br>
• accommodation and food services activities<br>
• wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles<br>
• transportation and storage<br>
• information and communication<br>
• real estate activities<br>
• arts, entertainment and recreation<br>
• construction<br>
• other service activities<br>
• financial and insurance activities<br>
• human health and social work activities<br>
Source: Manchester City Council, Labour Market Intelligence Report (June 2014) </p>