What job sectors are there and which sectors will grow in the future? (2024)

Green Jobs are growing

Green Jobs are those involved in producing goods or services that help to protect the environment and look after our natural resources.

'There could be as many as 694,000 direct jobs employed in the low-carbon and renewable energy economy by 2030 in England, rising to over 1.9 million by 2050'
(Local Green Jobs – accelerating a sustainable economic recovery. AnEcuityConsulting report for the Local Government Association)

The Space Sector

Space is also one of the fastest growing sectors of the UK economy, supporting jobs for some 117,000 people. Careers in space cover everything from building spacecraft and designing satellites, to coordinating disaster relief and forecasting future climate. The space industry employs engineers and scientists, accountants, lawyers and communicators. There are jobs in the public and private sectors, in universities, major multinational companies and small enterprises.

11 Fastest Growing Industries

According to Indeed (one of the biggest UK job vacancy sites) the following 11 industries have been identified as particularly strong for 2023.

1. Information technology

The information technology sector comprises of software and hardware companies, plus Internet or related service providers. According to data for theUK's Digital Economy Council, the number of advertised tech roles is 42% higher than pre-pandemic levels and tech and IT-related vacancies make up 13% of job vacancies.

2. Home furnishings

With more people than ever now working from home, sales of homeware and soft furnishings have soared. Home office workers have invested in new office equipment such as desks, shelves, lighting and storage solutions, plus there is more interest in home interiors and design.

3. Sports clothing and equipment

With more interest in health and fitness, sales of sports clothing and equipment have surged. The sports retail market has grown as a result of more people setting up home gyms, taking part in online workouts, or buying home exercise bikes and turbo trainers online.

4. Green manufacturing and energy

The trend towards a low-carbon economy has fuelled a rise in the green energy sector. The green manufacturing sector includes everything from wind turbines to solar panels and heat source pumps. The low-carbon sector is now worth £205.7bn, with big increases in demand for wind, solar power, wave and tidal energy, according to research byKmatrixfor the government.

5. Safety equipment and supplies

Staff working in GP surgeries, social care, pharmacists, care homes and dentists all require protective equipment which has led to many more jobs in the manufacture and distribution of this equipment. Demand is set to continue as more companies invest in workplace safety. Protective equipment and supplies help to ensure the health and safety of employees. This sector includes the manufacture of personal protective equipment, including safety signs, gloves and workwear.

6. Telehealth services

The telehealth services industry uses digital information and equipment to monitor health. There has been a big surge in telehealth services, such as remote blood pressure monitoring, mobile health apps and remote patient monitoring. Digital technology helps patients manage their long-term health conditions, without having to constantly visit a doctor. Examples of jobs in this sector include an operations manager for a telehealth company, a field telecare advisor and an electronic patients records manager.

7. Online food ordering and delivery

The food delivery market has tripled globally since 2017, according to research by management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company. The pandemic accelerated this growth as restaurants closed and more people ordered takeaways online. Many restaurants have now started their own takeaway service.

New user-friendly apps have made it easier for consumers to locate the type of food they want. Opportunities in this field include as a business development manager, a delivery driver or an operations coordinator.

8. Property industry

The property industry has seen huge growth over the last year. Working in the property market involves the buying and selling of real estate. The property market is divided into residential, such as houses and flats, commercial, such as shops, offices, warehouses and development sites, plus rural, including agricultural land and country estates. According to theOffice for National Statistics, over the last year, average house prices in the UK increased by 13.2% up to June 2021. This is the highest annual growth for 17 years.

The booming property industry has lots of opportunities for job applicants. There are roles within estate agencies, such as property valuers, lettings negotiators and sales consultants. Other jobs in this sector include planning, surveying, and working in land development.

9. Healthcare

Healthcare professionals are responsible for diagnosing health issues and treating and advising patients. The healthcare industry includes medical professionals such as doctors, nurses and dentists, as well as critical services such as mental health and social care and the pharmaceutical industry.

The Health Foundationforecasts that by 2030 the health industry will need an extra 488,000 health care staff, equivalent to a 40% increase. In addition, an extra 627,000 social care staff are needed to meet the demands of an ageing population. There is a huge demand for health and social care professionals to work in hospitals, medical centres, clinics and in care homes.

10. Data science industry

Most large companies require candidates with data science skills, such as computer science, statistics and graphic design. Data scientists bring valuable skills to many different sectors, such as finance and banking, for example, to establish ways to track payments, prevent fraud and to work on ways to increase customer satisfaction. In the manufacturing industry, data scientists work on ways to increase processes and avoid breakdowns.

In the energy sector, data scientists forecast energy requirements and help with a smoother customer experience. The gaming industry also uses data scientists to look at the type of people who play computer games, what they enjoy and how to market their products.

11. Cyber security and artificial intelligence

As the amount of sensitive information collected by large businesses increases, the cyber security industry is expanding to meet the demand to protect this data. Cyber security works to prevent unauthorized access and builds systems to deter hackers. Experts in this field defend companies from having their data breached. They may, for example, help stop viruses designed to erase information from an organisation's system.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists are also in big demand. Many companies hire AI specialists to help them develop their businesses and to create a more attractive customer experience. The types of job roles in this sector include future intelligence technologist, IT security consultant, security system administrator and ethical hacker.

Getting more information about the future:

To compare up to three jobs and find out salaries, predicted growth and more use the Careerometer.