BOOM OR DOOM
Are you in the wrong job? The sectors set to boom this year with salaries of up to £120,000
Where you could find a rewarding new career in 2025
THE next year is set to be bumpy for the jobs market - but some professions will be harder hit than others.
The emergence of AI is expected to delivery huge growth, while some sectors are already experiencing job cuts ahead of employer tax increases in April.
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Experts have also highlighted an increase in housebuilding and investment in renewable energy sources as factors that could create new job opportunities and drive up salaries.
Obviously, some roles in the the sectors highlighted for growth will require qualifications that can take years to gain, but others offer opportunities to train quickly or learn on the job.
And the good news is there are plenty of opportunities on offer and some of them come with hefty pay packets.
There were 818,000 job vacancies in the UK between September and November 2024, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.
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Between April and June 2024 the most commonly advertised jobs in the UK were for care workers.
Also making the list were positions in sales or business development, as well as accountancy positions including book-keepers, payroll managers and wage clerks.
It was demand for HGV drivers that saw the steepest increase, with the number of vacancies more than doubling during the year.
Big increases were also seen in the number of advertised vacancies for early education and childcare practitioners (58%), cleaners (26%), chefs (18%) and kitchen and catering assistants (15%).
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When it comes to wage growth recruitment expert Indeed’s tracker found that security, retail and customer service roles had all seen growth of more than 8% in the last year.
However Indeed UK's senior economist, Jack Kennedy, warned that wage growth in these sectors could be expected to plateau as employers look to reduce expenditure in light of the employer tax increases outlined in October's budget.
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But, other industries can expect to see wage increases as demand booms.
So if you're considering a career change in 2025, here are the roles experts think are set for a great year and those you might want to avoid.
The jobs set to boom
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AI developers
Recruitment experts were in agreement that 2025 is set to be a huge year for AI.
As a result, employers will be looking for talented individuals to join their teams and will offer big salaries to attract them.
John McLaughlin, chief commercial officer for talent at professional services company Aon, said: “Demand for AI software engineers and data scientists is skyrocketing.
"Job postings for software engineers with AI expertise quadrupled between 2023 and 2024.
"This trend is likely to continue into 2025, and may potentially accelerate with the advent of DeepSeek – a new Chinese AI start-up that has shaken up the sector."
McLaughlin said generous salary premiums were being offered to secure employees and added: "New hires in these roles can expect a 14 per cent premium, highlighting the competitive market.”
Arne Helgesen, IT leader, technology manager, and cybersecurity expert at Sharecat Data Services, added: “Companies don’t just need people who can build AI models — they need experts who can maintain them, check for biases, and ensure compliance with regulations.
"Getting into AI varies in difficulty. A software engineer with experience can switch in about six months with the right training, while someone with no background in tech might need two to four years of study and hands-on work.”
Analysis of vacancies posted in the last six months by ITJobsWatch found the median AI developer salary in the UK is £66,254, while career expert Glassdoor said recruits can anticipate salaries between £41,000 and £68,000.
However in the US salaries have reached $150,000 (£120,000), which suggests UK salaries could be set to grow further in the next 12 months.
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Builders and construction workers
The government has said it plans to build 1.5million homes in the next five years, which is expected to drive up demand in the construction industry.
Managing director of HR and payroll software company Employment Hero, Kevin Fitzgerald, said: “If the Labour government follows through on its promise to loosen planning regulations and fast-track infrastructure projects, it could provide a much-needed boost to the construction and housebuilding sectors.
"With construction wages already up 2.8% month-on-month and 9.4% year-on-year according to data from 90,0000 employees who use Employment Hero, demand for skilled workers will only intensify, driving wages even higher."
The Construction Industry Training Board predicts that the sector will grow by an average of 2.4% a year between now and 2028.
It has said that to meet the demand an extra 251,000 construction workers will be required over the next five years.
Construction workers saw salaries increase by 6% in the year to November 2024 and demand could drive up wages further.
Currently Indeed lists the average base salary of a construction worker as £27,141, while Glassdoor says workers can expect to be paid between £21,000 and £35,000.
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Plumbers, electricians and joiners
Unsurprisingly, plumbers, electricians and joiners are also expected to be in high demand.
Tom Buckle, director at employment agency Manpower UK, said: “What is consistent from 2024 and into 2025 is that skills are the new currency.
"Hands-on trade work with specialist knowledge and experience - such as plumbers, electricians and joiners – will continue to command higher fees.”
According to jobs site Reed electricians can expect to earn between £38,000 and £45,000 a year, while plumbers can anticipate salaries of between £37,723 to £41,249 and joiners around £36,000 a year.
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Teachers
The government has announced plans to recruit 6,500 new teachers to meet shortages.
The profession was highlighted by Indeed as having particularly high demand due to the numbers who have left jobs in recent years.
In fact the recruiter has seen a 245% increase in job postings in the last year with average salaries standing at £39,356.
The good news for those looking to enter the sector is there are multiple training routes available and a starting salary of £30,000.
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Solicitors
Indeed's data also highlighted an increased demand for property solicitors.
The recruitment site highlighted a 111% increase in advertised vacancies, with average salaries sitting at £52,929.
Property solicitors specialise in legal matters related to property purchases and sales.
The shortage may mean that salaries could see further increases in the next 12 months, driven by demand.
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Healthcare roles
Healthcare roles continue to see high demand and attract high salaries.
Doctors have seen a 95% increase in vacancies in the last year, according to Indeed.
Doctors can earn an average of £72,902, while specialists such as paediatricians could earn more than £100,000.
And, experts have said salaries can be expected to increase further.
Tom Haylock, data specialist, business expert, and chief executive of Sharecat Data Services, said: “Healthcare is definitely one of the big winners.
"With more older people and a bigger focus on mental health, jobs like paediatric surgeons, nurses, and corporate wellness specialists are in high demand.
“Paediatric surgeons, for example, could see their salaries go up by 24 per cent. Becoming a surgeon, however, takes a long time. We’re talking 10 plus years, including medical school and residency.
"Nurses can get started faster, usually in two to four years with a degree.
"Corporate wellness roles are also growing, especially as companies try to improve workplace culture. These jobs often need one to two years of certification, so they’re a good option if you’re looking to switch careers."
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Renewable energy roles
With a renewed focus on renewable energies set out by government, experts said to expect an increase in roles in the sector.
Sharecat chief executive Tom Haylock said: Renewable energy is another growing field.
"Jobs like wind turbine technicians, solar panel installers, and energy storage engineers are growing fast because of the push for cleaner energy.
"Salaries here are strong, thanks to government funding and a lack of skilled workers."
And, Haylock said it's relatively quick to train for roles with one to two year vocational programs and apprenticeships available.
How to negotiate a better salary
Employment specialist Indeed gives the following advice for negotiating a better salary
- Calculate your value: Determine how much your qualifications and experience are worth
- Research the market: Look at similar roles to give an idea of salary expectations
- Prepare your reasons: Be ready to justify every argument you give for having a better salary.
- Rehearse your negotiation pitch: The more prepared you are the better.
- Explain your work-related expenses: Part of your pitch could be that you are asking for more money to make up for expenses.
- Be flexible: An employer might offer you a different salary package with more holiday or better working hours if they can't directly raise the amount you're paid
- Don't be afraid to walk away: You might have to think about walking away or pausing negotiations to consider your position.
- Thank the employer for their time: This professional courtesy shows respect and maintains a positive working relationship
The sectors facing a tough 2025
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Factory roles
Warnings have been sounded that jobs in factories and manufacturing centres could be at risk due to the rise in automation and AI.
Arne Helgesen, an IT leader, technology manager, and cybersecurity expert at Sharecat Data Services, said: "Factory jobs relying on manual labour are shrinking.
"Robotics and automation are taking over, especially in automotive and logistics.
"Amazon has more than 750,000 robots working in its warehouses, reducing the need for human workers in basic roles like picking and packing.
"Jobs that don’t involve problem-solving or working with technology are becoming less secure, and wages in those sectors aren’t likely to improve."
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Hospitality
Hospitality could be set for a challenging 2025 with the cost of living crisis continuing to dampening customer demand and an increased tax burden on the horizon.
Industry chiefs have said the hike to employer National Insurance contributions, set to cost hospitality an extra £1billion a year, has already led to a hiring freeze and increased prices for the sector.
Tom Haylock of Sharecat said: "Wages here are likely to stay flat, and turnover will stay high."
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, has urged the government to ease pressure on the sector.
She said: “It is already forcing businesses to abandon investment, reduce headcounts and raise prices. It’s completely misguided to be punishing a sector that has such growth potential.”
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Retail
The retail sector is facing similar pressures to hospitality in light of the increase to employer National Insurance contributions and has already seen job losses.
Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons have all announced staffing cuts in recent weeks as employers look to lower headcounts.
But, Employment Hero's UK managing director, Kevin Fitzgerald, said there was some cause for optimism for both retail and hospitality.
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He said: “For businesses in consumer-facing industries, there’s also room for optimism.
"As inflation settles, interest rates drop and cost-of-living pressures ease, household spending power should increase - good news for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses."
Tools to use to help you write your CV
HERE are some tools and apps that can help you put together your CV:
- Resume app: If you struggle formatting your CV, you can choose from 21 templates in the Resume app to help you. And once you've put it together, you can export it as a PDF directly to your email. Resume is free to download and use, but has additonal premimum options that you can pay for.
- Grammarly: It's important to get your spelling and grammar accurate, so run your CV through a tool such as Grammarly to check for any errors. It's free to download straight to your desktop.
- Vizualize.me: If you've got an exisiting LinkedIn account, Vizualize.me takes the data and turns it into a timeline of your employment history and a breakdown of your skills. The free tool has six different themes so it's a good option to make your CV look visually appealing as well.
- VisualCV: As well as making your CV look eye catching, VisualCV also makes sure it can be read by electronic systems that some recruiters use to filter CVs. It's also free to sign up for.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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