With the UK emerging from its third lockdown, research from LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, finds that 61% of people in the UK are feeling optimistic about their career prospects, rising to 83% among 16-34-year-olds. Research conducted by Censuswide for LinkedIn finds that the top reasons for career optimism are: lockdown restrictions easing (36%), a sense of normality resuming (34%), the economy reopening (28%), and high job security (27%). This level of optimism can help people when they start searching for these new and important jobs. They can help themselves further by checking out resourceful services like LinkedIn automation, for example, which can help with reaching out and making those important job-seeking connections.

The most optimistic cities across the UK are:
London (68% feel optimistic)
Norwich (66% feel optimistic)
Birmingham (64% feel optimistic)
Sheffield (64% feel optimistic)
Manchester (60% feel optimistic)

Whilst the least optimistic are:
Brighton (48% do not feel optimistic)
Edinburgh (46% do not feel optimistic)
Nottingham (46% do not feel optimistic)
Belfast (46% do not feel optimistic)
Cardiff (45% do not feel optimistic)

Employers are also feeling buoyed by the easing of restrictions and the recent surge in consumer spending. Data from LinkedIn finds that hiring in the UK is up 22% compared to last April, as the UK jobs market begins to look up. Nearly a quarter (23%) of people surveyed say that their company is currently performing well. The top 15 most in-demand jobs that companies are recruiting for in the UK based on volume are:

Customer Assistant
Software Engineer
Project Manager
Delivery Driver
Business Development Manager
Personal Shopper
Account Manager
Business Analyst
Sales Executive
Full Stack Engineer
Product Manager
Marketing Manager
Solutions Architect
Account Executive
Operations Manager

What workers want when looking for a job has also changed as a result of the pandemic. An additional survey of 1,058 LinkedIn members in the UK found that flexibility (52%), work/life balance (44%) and workplace culture (38%) are now more important to people when considering a job than before the onset of COVID-19.

The insights come as LinkedIn launches its latest TV-led advertising campaign which encourages job seekers to take the first small steps towards new opportunities and career growth.

Janine Chamberlin, UK Country Manager, LinkedIn, said: “The past year has been extremely difficult for so many people, particularly those that have faced redundancy, found themselves out of work or have been forced to switch career. As the economy reopens and people start getting back to doing the things they love, it’s great to see people feeling more optimistic about their job prospects, and companies hiring again.

For anyone looking for work, ensuring that their transferable skills are front and centre when applying to roles is key to standing out to prospective employers and recruiters. Likewise, it’s more important than ever that companies move to assess candidates on their future potential and skills as much as their previous experience and formal qualifications to get people back into jobs quickly.”

Adam Hawkins, Head of Search and Staffing, LinkedIn, said: “It’s been an extremely difficult year for so many people, particularly those that have faced redundancy, found themselves out of work or have been forced to switch career. As the economy reopens and a sense of normality resumes, it’s great to see people feeling more optimistic about their job prospects, and companies hiring again.

Recruiters will play an integral role in reigniting the economy, getting people back into jobs and re-instilling career confidence in those already in roles that may be feeling cautious to seek career progression and new opportunities. There’s likely to have been a number of people ‘sheltering’ in jobs, waiting to see how things pan out before putting job security and a regular income at risk given the events over the past year, but hopefully now we will see more movement in the jobs market.”