UK jobs in demand and course ideas
Check official UK labour-market signals, compare sectors by region, and find course areas that may help you choose a realistic next step.
A course cannot guarantee a job. This guide uses official data to help you make a more informed choice.
Data updated 6 July 2026. Latest vacancy period: Mar-May 2026.
- Official data sources
- Plain-English guide
- Course eligibility next step
UK job market right now
707,000
Current vacancies
−19,000
Change on the quarter
2.5
Unemployed people per vacancy
Sectors showing demand
- Health and social care
- Retail and customer service
- Hospitality
- Professional services
- Admin and business support
ONS data · Mar-May 2026
Quick answer
What jobs are in demand in the UK right now?
In the latest official data (Mar-May 2026), there were around 707,000 vacancies across the UK. Sectors such as health and social care, retail and customer service and hospitality recorded the most vacancies, while digital and technology, education and childcare and admin and business support showed vacancy growth compared with a year ago.
Labour market data like this can help you explore options, but demand varies by region, employer and time period. Course areas linked to these sectors may help you build relevant skills. Providers confirm course availability, funding and eligibility, and no course can guarantee a job.
Use the explorer below to see your region, or browse course areas, read our learning guides, or check if you could get a funded course.
Explore
Explore demand by region and sector
UK snapshot
Across the UK, these sectors currently show the most vacancies in official ONS data. Choose a region above to see which sectors employ the most people near you.
- Health and social care124,000 vacancies
- Retail and customer service86,000 vacancies
- Hospitality69,000 vacancies
- Professional services67,000 vacancies
- Admin and business support52,000 vacancies
What this data can and cannot tell you
- Labour market data can help you explore options and compare sectors.
- Regional figures show workforce jobs by sector, not live vacancies.
- National vacancy data is not the same as local vacancies near you.
- Demand varies by region, employer and time period.
- Course areas may help you build relevant skills, but no course can guarantee a job.
- Providers confirm course availability, funding and eligibility.
Check funded course eligibility
If a sector interests you, the next practical step is to see whether you may be able to access a funded course.
Best sectors to explore
Best sectors to explore
Health and social care
Human health and social work activities
124,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Health and social care shows around 124,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period. Demand has eased over the past year but the sector remains one of the larger sources of vacancies.
Example jobs
Care worker · Support worker · Healthcare assistant · Care administrator
Related course areas
- Health and social care
- Mental health awareness
- Safeguarding
- Customer service
Retail and customer service
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles
86,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Retail and customer service shows around 86,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period. Demand has eased over the past year but the sector remains one of the larger sources of vacancies.
Example jobs
Customer service advisor · Retail assistant · Sales support · Team leader
Related course areas
- Customer service
- Retail skills
- Team leading
- Digital skills
Hospitality
Accommodation and food service activities
69,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Hospitality shows around 69,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period. Demand has eased over the past year but the sector remains one of the larger sources of vacancies.
Example jobs
Hospitality team member · Catering assistant · Barista · Front of house
Related course areas
- Hospitality and catering
- Food safety
- Customer service
- Team leading
Professional services
Professional, scientific and technical activities
67,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Professional services shows around 67,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period. Demand has eased over the past year but the sector remains one of the larger sources of vacancies.
Example jobs
Business support officer · Marketing assistant · Project coordinator · Bookkeeper
Related course areas
- Business and management
- Project management
- Bookkeeping and accounts
- Digital marketing
Admin and business support
Administrative and support service activities
52,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Admin and business support shows around 52,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period, up compared with a year ago, which is a sign of recent vacancy growth.
Example jobs
Administrator · Receptionist · Data entry clerk · Office coordinator
Related course areas
- Business administration
- IT and computer skills
- Customer service
- Bookkeeping
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
50,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Manufacturing shows around 50,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period, broadly stable compared with a year ago.
Example jobs
Production operative · Quality control assistant · Warehouse operative · Maintenance support
Related course areas
- Manufacturing and engineering
- Lean and quality
- Health and safety
- Digital manufacturing
Education and childcare
Education
48,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Education and childcare shows around 48,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period, up compared with a year ago, which is a sign of recent vacancy growth.
Example jobs
Teaching assistant · Early years practitioner · Learning support · Nursery assistant
Related course areas
- Supporting teaching and learning
- Early years and childcare
- Safeguarding
- SEN awareness
Digital and technology
Information and communication
40,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Digital and technology shows around 40,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period, up compared with a year ago, which is a sign of recent vacancy growth.
Example jobs
IT support technician · Junior data analyst · Digital marketing assistant · Software tester
Related course areas
- Digital skills
- Data analysis
- Cyber security awareness
- Coding fundamentals
Construction
Construction
33,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Construction shows around 33,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period, broadly stable compared with a year ago.
Example jobs
Construction operative · Site administrator · Trades labourer · Estimating assistant
Related course areas
- Construction skills
- Health and safety (CSCS)
- Sustainability and retrofit
- Project support
Transport, logistics and warehousing
Transportation and storage
33,000
vacancies (latest ONS period)
Transport, logistics and warehousing shows around 33,000 vacancies in the latest ONS period, broadly stable compared with a year ago.
Example jobs
Warehouse operative · Logistics coordinator · Delivery driver · Stock controller
Related course areas
- Warehousing and logistics
- Supply chain
- Customer service
- Health and safety
Take a step
Course areas linked to job demand
Health and social care
Example jobs
Care worker · Support worker · Healthcare assistant · Care administrator
Course areas
- Health and social care
- Mental health awareness
- Safeguarding
- Customer service
Who it may suit
- May suit people who want practical, people-facing work
- Often has roles open to people newer to the sector
Admin and business support
Example jobs
Administrator · Receptionist · Data entry clerk · Office coordinator
Course areas
- Business administration
- IT and computer skills
- Customer service
- Bookkeeping
Who it may suit
- May suit organised people who like structured tasks
- Office skills transfer across many employers
Construction
Example jobs
Construction operative · Site administrator · Trades labourer · Estimating assistant
Course areas
- Construction skills
- Health and safety (CSCS)
- Sustainability and retrofit
- Project support
Who it may suit
- May suit practical, hands-on people
- A growing focus on green building and retrofit skills
Retail and customer service
Example jobs
Customer service advisor · Retail assistant · Sales support · Team leader
Course areas
- Customer service
- Retail skills
- Team leading
- Digital skills
Who it may suit
- May suit people who enjoy working with the public
- Transferable skills that apply across many sectors
Education and childcare
Example jobs
Teaching assistant · Early years practitioner · Learning support · Nursery assistant
Course areas
- Supporting teaching and learning
- Early years and childcare
- Safeguarding
- SEN awareness
Who it may suit
- May suit patient people who enjoy supporting others
- Often a route for people returning to work
Digital and technology
Example jobs
IT support technician · Junior data analyst · Digital marketing assistant · Software tester
Course areas
- Digital skills
- Data analysis
- Cyber security awareness
- Coding fundamentals
Who it may suit
- May suit people who enjoy problem-solving and tech
- Many roles value demonstrable skills as well as experience
Transport, logistics and warehousing
Example jobs
Warehouse operative · Logistics coordinator · Delivery driver · Stock controller
Course areas
- Warehousing and logistics
- Supply chain
- Customer service
- Health and safety
Who it may suit
- May suit people who like active, organised work
- Roles across many locations and shift patterns
Professional services
Example jobs
Business support officer · Marketing assistant · Project coordinator · Bookkeeper
Course areas
- Business and management
- Project management
- Bookkeeping and accounts
- Digital marketing
Who it may suit
- May suit people who like analytical, office-based work
- Skills transfer across many professional roles
Hospitality
Example jobs
Hospitality team member · Catering assistant · Barista · Front of house
Course areas
- Hospitality and catering
- Food safety
- Customer service
- Team leading
Who it may suit
- May suit people who like fast-paced, sociable work
- Entry routes are common across the sector
Manufacturing
Example jobs
Production operative · Quality control assistant · Warehouse operative · Maintenance support
Course areas
- Manufacturing and engineering
- Lean and quality
- Health and safety
- Digital manufacturing
Who it may suit
- May suit people who like making and building things
- Increasing demand for digital and automation skills
Financial services
Example jobs
Accounts assistant · Customer support · Payroll administrator · Compliance support
Course areas
- Bookkeeping and accounts
- Business administration
- Customer service
- Data skills
Who it may suit
- May suit detail-focused, numerate people
- Foundational finance skills are widely valued
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FAQ
Common questions about jobs in demand
Transparency
Sources and how to read this guide
Where the data comes from
- ONS vacancy and workforce jobs datasets: vacancies by industry and size, unemployment, and workforce jobs by region and industry.
- Employer Skills Survey 2024: employer-reported evidence on hard-to-fill vacancies, skill-shortage vacancies and skills gaps.
- Skills England Annual Skills Report and Sectoral Skills Needs Assessments 2026: priority sectors and longer-term skills needs.
How to read this guide
- Vacancy data shows where employers are hiring. It is not a guarantee of a job for any individual.
- Industries are broad groups and do not identify exact job roles.
- Regional workforce jobs show where sectors are large, not the number of current vacancies in a region.
- National vacancy data is not the same as local vacancies near you.
- Skills shortage evidence is employer-reported survey evidence, not live vacancy data.
- Course availability and funding eligibility must be confirmed by providers.
- Learning Gateway does not make final funding decisions and does not provide regulated careers advice.
What the terms mean
- Vacancy
- An open role an employer is trying to fill, as measured by the ONS Vacancy Survey.
- Workforce jobs
- The total number of jobs in an area or sector, counting jobs rather than people. It shows where a sector is large, not how many roles are open right now.
- Vacancy pressure
- Vacancies per 100 employee jobs. A higher ratio suggests employers in that sector are working harder to recruit relative to its size.
- Skill-shortage vacancy
- A hard-to-fill vacancy caused by applicants lacking the required skills, qualifications or experience, as reported by employers in the Employer Skills Survey.
- Skills gap
- When existing employees are judged by their employer not to be fully proficient in their current role.
Dataset details
Data updated 6 July 2026. Latest vacancy period: Mar-May 2026.
VACS01 / VACS02 / VACS03 / JOBS01 (ONS)
Office for National Statistics
Period: Mar-May 2026
VACS02: Vacancies by industry
Office for National Statistics
Period: Mar-May 2026
VACS02: Vacancies by industry (ratios)
Office for National Statistics
Period: Mar-May 2026
JOBS05: Workforce jobs by region and industry
Office for National Statistics
Period: Mar 2026
VACS03: Vacancies by size of business
Office for National Statistics
Period: Mar-May 2026
Employer Skills Survey 2024
Department for Education
Period: 2024
Skills England Annual Skills Report and Sectoral Skills Needs Assessments 2026
Skills England
Period: 2026
JOBS03: Employee jobs by industry and sex
Office for National Statistics
Period: Mar 2026
Looking for funded courses? Browse course areas or read our learning guides.