London UK, 8 July 2019 - Robert Half UK reveals the top 10 in-demand roles for the second half of 2019, and the leading trends in the jobs market today.
NET developers, digital marketing managers and IT project managers appear in the list as organisations focus on transforming their businesses to cope with Industry 4.0. Meanwhile, professional ghosting and skill signalling are the new behavioural trends emerging as a result of the ongoing war for talent, as candidates continue to thrive in a ‘buyer’s market’.
Top 10 jobs for the year ahead and salary brackets
1. NET Developers (£35,000 – 46,500)
The need for more technical skills and qualifications is apparent as development operations within technology firms is set to grow.
2. Digital Marketing Manager (£35,000 – 55,000)
Digital Marketing Managers are needed to drive advertising budgets and new data insights as the hiring climate takes on a more commercial-savvy approach to raise economic activity.
3. Compliance Analyst (£35,000 – £65,000)
More businesses are seeking compliance analysts to make sure their companies are on top of their risk management.
4. Financial Accountant (£42,500 - £65,000)
Demand is rising for interim financial accountants as businesses seek the added flexibility of hiring staff for contracted periods of between six months and one year.
5. Credit Controllers (£18,000 – 30,000)
As businesses focus more heavily on their cash flow, credit control is becoming an integral part of the finance function.
6. Financial Reporting Accountants (£35,000 – 65,000)
Contract candidates who have trained at one of the ‘Big Four’ are rising in demand as companies look to implement automated financial reporting.
7. IT Operations Manager (£42,750 – 65,000)
CIOs are facing the integration of technology into business processes. As such, candidates who are adept at business partnering will be needed to drive forward digital transformation programmes – particularly those with soft skills such as effective communication.
8. Financial Analyst (£40,000 - £75,000)
Businesses want an in-depth knowledge of the numbers to help inform investment decisions. As such, financial analysts are in demand as companies seek to leverage their insights.
9. HR Business Partner (£31,000 - £48,000)
As Industry 4.0 continues apace it is important businesses consider the human impact. Creating open lines of communication and engaging with affected staff will be key, therefore the focus will be on the HR department to implement this.
10. IT Project Managers (£42,750 - £77,500)
The digitalisation of the workplace means IT teams are seeing an increased number of projects across a range of departments. Project managers are needed to keep these on track and decipher the needs of the business to the wider IT team.
New and emerging hiring trends
Ghosting: Professional ghosting is when a candidate cuts all contact with prospective employers after the interview, never accepts or declines a job offer or never turns up for the first day of work. In today’s buyer’s market, candidates with in-demand skills – such as digital skills, critical thinking, resilience and adaptability to change – are likely to be fielding multiple job offers and can often fail to inform prospective employers when their circumstances change.
To help tackle this challenge, employers must streamline their recruitment processes and maintain open lines of communication to ensure that in-demand candidates do not disconnect from an overly drawn-out process.
Skill signalling: For candidates, there is added emphasis on highlighting the skills that set them apart from the competition. In an increasingly digital age, candidates that can demonstrate their digital literacy - such as experience in coding, software development or working with artificial intelligence - will be able to command more job offers from prospective employers.
Similarly, demonstrating soft skills such as communications and problem-solving abilities are increasingly being used to stand out from the crowd.
Matt Weston, UK Managing Director at Robert Half commented: “Technology and digitalisation is accelerating the evolution of the workplace. As companies adjust to the challenges and opportunities this can have on their business, the need for the right skills intensifies the war for talent.
“Businesses are seeking candidates with specialist skills, sector and industry experience and systems knowledge. The most in demand of these being mid-level, specialist roles. Candidates interviewing for these jobs can expect some degree of negotiation regarding remuneration packages and starting salaries.
“The time it takes to hire a candidate will play a crucial role in how successful businesses are at securing their first-choice candidate. Qualified candidates receive multiple offers and competitive remuneration packages, and companies that fail to make an offer within the first week or two may lose out or risk being ghosted.”
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Notes to editors
1. The roles and salary information are based on Robert Half Salary Guide, and updated on a bi-annual basis: Since 1950, Robert Half has produced Salary Guides to offer business owners, hiring managers and professionals information on prevailing starting salaries and insight into the latest employment trends. Companies consult the annual Salary Guide to determine appropriate remuneration for accounting and finance, financial services, technology, marketing and business support professionals at all levels.
Information in the Salary Guide is based on the thousands of job searches, negotiations and placements managed each year by Robert Half's recruitment consultants, along with the company's ongoing surveys of executives. Continuing or ongoing salaries are not reported because many external factors – such as seniority, work ethic, non-monetary benefits, job performance and training – impact the salaries of permanent professionals as work histories develop.
2. Workplace trends are based on anecdotal evidence from the thousands of negotiations and placements managed each year by Robert Half's recruitment consultants
About Robert Half
Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialised recruitment consultancy and member of the S&P 500. We have once again been named to FORTUNE’s “World’s Most Admired Companies®” list and remains the top-ranked staffing firm (2022). Founded in 1948, the company has over 300 offices worldwide providing temporary, interim and permanent recruitment solutions for accounting and finance, financial services, technology, legal and administrative professionals. Robert Half offers workplace and jobseeker resources at roberthalf.co.uk and twitter.com/roberthalfuk.