While the UK economy struggles to build overall momentum, a survey this week shows the sectors which have enjoyed the fastest wage growth of the past year. Are you one of the lucky ones?

Recruitment among top industries for wage increases

Recruitment features among the list of top ten industries for pay increases, according to one survey released this week. The research, by the jobs board CV-Library, places the UK recruitment industry at seventh overall. The top sectors for wage-growth were hospitality (1st; +24.6 per cent), and Agriculture (2nd, +12.8 per cent).

The survey measured year-on-year wage increases across multiple sectors of the economy.

Design, IT, and engineering were among the other professions to feel the good times. The top ten is as follows:

1. Hospitality – 24.6%
2. Agriculture – 12.8%
3. Automotive – 7.8%
4. Retail – 7.1%
5. Design – 6.5%
6. Customer services – 6.4%
7. Recruitment – 3.8%
8. Engineering – 2.4%
9. IT – 2%
10. Marketing – 1.4%

Temping keeps the Australian economy ticking over

Contingency workers, contractors, and temporary staff are a significant contributor to the Australian workforce, according to new market data.

The study of recruitment trends by Kinetic Superannuation forms part of their Contingent Job Index report for September 2017. Since November 2013, the volume of advertised positions listed as temporary or casual has risen by 43 per cent. In some regions such as Tasmania and the Northern Territories, the number was as high as 70 per cent.

The Education and training sector had the highest reliance on contingency workers. 42.7 per cent of its entire workforce is currently employed in a temporary or short-term capacity.

Kinetic Super identifies the need for enterprise to accept the increasing significance of the contingency worker in Australia’s economic future. Certainly, with the growing level of sophistication in recruitment software, talent specialists are finding it easier than ever to source skills, almost on a just-in-time basis. Semantic search engines have improved the suitability of candidates being put forward for consideration, and a growing portion of the labour market is either satisfied – or actively seeking – less formal working agreements. While we have seen criticism for gig work in recent weeks, it seems that the situation is working for some – in Australia, at least.

It’s official: your qualifications really do count for less

We have raised the question several times before, but now it seems it is official: academic qualifications aren’t worth what they used to be.

The bold claim, published by the JobGetter web portal in the Australian Job Seeker Report found that 65 per cent of those seeking employment did not feel fully prepared by their education, and that a lack of professional experience was holding them back.

While 38 per cent of those surveyed were currently engaged in school, college, or training, less than half of all respondants felt that their education had prepared them for life at work. In fact, just 35 per cent of those who responded to the questions believed they were fully prepared for a professional role.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, more than half (52 per cent) of those asked felt there should be more access to internship and apprenticeship schemes.

JobGetter founder, Fiona Anson said there was “a disconnect between what is being taught at educational institutions, and the types of skills and knowledge that employers are privileging when hiring.”

A cut above the competition?

Recruitment watercooler moment of the week comes courtesy of Chris McColgan, writing for Recruitment Buzz. He tells us that 1 in 5 UK jobseekers would go under the surgeon’s knife to get ahead at work.

According to figures put out by Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors, 72 per cent of Brits believe that there is an attractiveness bias in the workplace, and that beautiful people enjoy better treatment.

The fear is so real that 23 per cent of those surveyed said they would undergo cosmetic surgery if it meant improving their career. But be warned – of those who had already undergone surgery, only 33 per cent noticed any improvement in the way they were subsequently treated. So either their fears of an attractiveness bias are unfounded, or they need to find a better surgeon.

So, would you undergo the knife to get ahead?