“We have reached an important milestone with employment levels at their highest on record, but new challenges are starting to emerge for many workers. This week’s announcement on the closure of more jobs in the steel industry is a prime example of the trials facing workers in 2016 – the need to adapt to suit the new skills we need, by retraining now redundant workers.
“The UK jobs landscape is changing. Strong sterling is already severely dampening our ability to manufacture and sell goods overseas. Scotland’s oil industry has been hit hard by falling prices. Meanwhile, the IT and Technology sectors are booming with new vacancies opening faster than we can fill them. As the number of jobseekers still available to fill new openings decreases, upskilling workers will become a crucial component of fixing the skills shortage.
“Improving wages are a bright spot on the horizon for workers. Our last Jobs Report reported the first monthly rise in advertised salaries in eight months in November – meaning new jobseekers are starting to see increased salary packages. Meanwhile, pay for those in work is also rising.”
