The latest NIJobs.com Jobs Report with Ulster Bank reveals encouraging news for jobseekers despite local political and Brexit deadlock.
Software developers, Chefs, Maintenance Engineers and Accountants are all in demand with results for Q1 indicating fresh record high with listings rising by 13% y/y and over one-third (36%) in four years.
These statistics are encouraging at a time when many businesses are awaiting clarity around the future position of Northern Ireland post Brexit.
The report analyses and interprets data with Ulster Bank’s Chief Economist Richard Ramsey and is an accurate indicator offering important insight about recruitment, the types of jobs people are looking for and the roles companies are keen to recruit here.
Most Active Job Sectors
IT once again has trumped all competition and remains the most active in recruitment terms and it also accounts for 13% of total listings.
Social, Charity & Not for Profit, Hospitality, and Engineering and Accountancy sectors were the next big performers for Q1. And, twenty-one of the thirty-two employment categories recorded growth in job listings when compared to the same quarter last year.
Five out of the 32 employment categories on NIJobs.com also hit record highs with a sixth category noting a joint record in terms of listings: Secretarial and Admin, Security, Trade & General Services, Big Data & Analytics, Marketing, social charity & Not for Profit and HR (matched previous record high).
Recruit Key People To Sustain Business Growth
Sam McIlveen, General Manager of NIJobs.com said: “Our data indicates that some employment categories are performing well, companies are investing in business development and hiring staff for a wide range of roles. However, the strong performance in the first quarter of 2019 does come with a caution.
“There has been a steady rise in job listings and a number of highs recorded in recent months but given the current climate of uncertainty, it could prove a challenge to sustain this level of activity — interesting months lie ahead.
Northern Ireland is also particularly exposed in relation to both the UK and Southern Ireland so businesses will need clarity in order to effectively plan ahead for future recruitment needs.
“Skills shortages are still an issue for some sectors currently and our research indicates that jobs in Science and IT will increase even more over the next ten years so action needs to be taken now to provide the skilled workforce these jobs will require.”
“The marketplace is extremely competitive right now, so candidates are becoming more selective when looking for a good employer. Brexit again may also be a contributing factor making people more cautious when considering their next career move. We would be advising companies to continue to focus on how they are recruiting the right people in order to sustain business growth long-term.”