The skills gap in today’s workplace is an ongoing concern for many employers. The demand for products, and the number of orders coming give the impression of a strong economy. Unfortunately, in many industries, the lack of a skilled workforce that can deliver the goods is having a significant impact on productivity.
A recent report highlighted how, by 2030, the UK could be trying to fill 17.4 million high-skilled jobs with just 14.8 high-skilled workers.
For those seeking work, this presents an amazing opportunity to reskill and step into often better-paying roles where demand for certain capabilities is growing, increasing the value of those who have those skills. We have highlighted some of those missing skills here in the article. Re-skilling could be the professional change you need to take you to the next level.
The Construction Industry – provides a wealth of opportunity
Housing shortages and improvements to national infrastructure mean that those who have specialist skills in the construction sector will rarely be out of work. Skilled tradespeople such as carpenters, electricians, roofers, bricklayers, and plumbers are particularly in short supply. Of the existing supply, over 20 percent are over the age of 50, and 15 percent are in their sixties, with a lack of numbers entering the professions among the younger generation.
Encouraging the younger generation away from the digital world and back onto the construction site/workplace will require a complete re-education of the benefits of working in construction. The scope for personal development and reskilling is a key discussion point in the workplace. Additional accreditations such as tower crane, dumper, and PASMA training are a definite investment in an individual’s employability prospects.
Hospitality – the perfect pathway into a service-related career
A combination of Brexit and the pandemic has decimated the hospitality industry for the workplace. Even with a slight recovery in 2021/22, many individual establishments were forced to shut their doors for good due to the soaring energy costs of 2023.
The lack of workers has played its part. 200,000 international workers have left the hospitality sector since 2019. The percentage of workers coming in from the EU to work in immigration used to be more than a third, but has since fallen to under a quarter in September 2022.
According to Caterer Magazine claims that chefs are the most difficult roles to hire for. So if you are passionate about food, it may be an opportunity for you to take that passion and turn it into your profession. Avid watchers of Masterchef will understand how intense working as a chef can be – there are less pressured environments, but feeding a room full of people is certainly a career that can give immense pleasure.
It is never too late to follow your dream if becoming a chef is what that dream is. If this is something you wish to follow, you can initially sign up for some low-cost chef courses that will teach you everything from kitchen management to food hygiene, hospitality, and catering management. Make sure that those courses are CPD Certified.
Although these won’t teach you how to cook, they will form the initial foundation of your move towards a career in cooking, and demonstrate your commitment.
Healthcare – Addressing the Skills Gap in an Essential Sector
In addition to the construction industry and hospitality sector, another area experiencing a skills gap is healthcare. With an aging population and advancements in medical technology, there is a growing demand for healthcare professionals across various specialties, including nursing, allied health, and medical administration. However, many healthcare facilities struggle to find qualified candidates to fill these positions, leading to staffing shortages and increased pressure on existing healthcare workers and workplace. Reskilling programs and educational initiatives aimed at attracting individuals to the healthcare field can help address this gap and ensure that quality healthcare services are available to all who need them.
Conclusion
And if cooking is not your preferred choice, hospitality still has a plethora of suitable jobs crying out for people just like you – from restaurant management and waiting on tables, to the front of the house, to housekeeping, to running a bar, hospitality is a real leveler, offering opportunities to grow, and professionally develop no matter how late in life you are starting out.
