Look at the West Midlands

West Midlands employment continues to be stable, with predictions of positive net employment gains and most industry sectors set to expand. Small companies are optimistic about staffing levels with the highest confidence from small manufacturing companies, small services companies and micro public and utilities companies. While large-scale manufacturing still shows a downward trend, the service sector continues to expand, although there are some local variations.

Shortages are noticeable in the construction industry, with many opportunities for qualified electricians (16th Edition Regulations) and plumbers (CORGI), the transport industry (LGV C+E), the Police and the service sector. There is a shortage of multi-skilled engineers. However, employment in telecommunications and IT is still stagnant. The West Midlands and Staffordshire have all suffered downturns in employment in several sectors, specifically in manufacturing and especially in the Potteries.

North Oxfordshire has unskilled employment available at industrial, warehouse, factory and cleaning sites. Good transport systems enable people to seek management and administrative work in Oxford and other cities, and to live outside urban areas. Local unemployment rates fluctuate.

Regional unemployment is now the lowest since 1975. Although redundancies in the manufacturing industry receive wide publicity the motor industry is fairly stable. Most Police Forces are actively recruiting, although applicant processing is slow but improving. The major growth area is logistics and all service industries. Long-term forecasts are for little change during the rest of 2002, with qualified and experienced Service leavers continuing to find work quickly.

Opportunities and skills shortages
There are shortages of experienced IT technicians and engineers, as well as project managers, with new CTP courses in this field very welcome. Opportunities for service industry employees include hospitality, hotel, catering, leisure and drivers (LGV in particular).

Despite steady employment growth in skilled posts like administration, IT, engineering, hotels and catering, accounting, nursing and health, the most major shortage is of unskilled posts within the construction industry. Poor wages and excessive hours are the primary reason, and this encourages the black economy as labourers make up the shortfall at weekends. There is also a shortage of qualified and certified plant operatives, but applicants will increasingly need the correct certification to obtain employment.

There is a small but steady demand for those with plumbing and general engineering qualifications. The interest in recycling and other environmental issues is likely to drive up demand for these skills. Construction industry skills shortages include plumbers, carpenters, painters, decorators, roofers and bricklayers.

Employer news
Retail industries appear to be picking up, with new hypermarkets under construction and a major chain recruiting and training 3,500 people to run eight new superstores. After several years of job cuts, but now having made a spectacular recovery, Laura Ashley is shortly to announce job vacancies.

There has been an upturn in some engineering and aerospace businesses as the Airbus programme starts. George S Hall Ltd is actively recruiting with a countrywide search for engineers.

Railway recruitment continues while, as always, there is an ongoing requirement for drivers of all categories, but particularly HGV. The specialist motorsport industry continues to grow.

There are telephone and call centre positions available, and some requirement for customer support staff. One major manufacturer is currently researching its popularity by recruiting high-volume short-term contract workers to carry out a telephone campaign census in major towns and cities.

There is a constant demand for service industry workers, particularly in security and catering, although such jobs are not well paid. Logistics workers are also required.

There are Police vacancies although there is some civilianising of Police posts in such areas as media liaison, criminal justice support, operations centres and administration.

Although the telecommunications market is now flat after massive downsizing, recruitment is projected to pick up during the latter part of 2002 and first half of 2003. CORUS has announced the loss of a further 4,000 jobs on top of the 6,000 that have gone since January 2001. Michelin is shedding 300 jobs, TRANSCO 800 and Royal Doulton 860. Most manufacturing industry is still either in recession or unsure of the length and size of the economic recovery.

Salaries

House price guide
The following prices are a rough guide only to property prices and are liable to overnight change as financial factors in the country as well as in the region affect housing.

Information courtesy of the http://www.ctp.org.uk">Career Transition Partnership

Shortages are noticeable in the construction industry, with many opportunities for qualified electricians and plumbers
Regional unemployment is now the lowest since 1975

There are shortages of experienced IT technicians and engineers