Avia Collinder
Career Coordinator

Demand for workers fell by 36 per cent during the last quarter of 2008, according to information released this week by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on employment trends for the period October 1 to December 31 last year.

During the period a total of 3,259 vacancies were advertised compared to the previous quarter (July to September 2008) in which a total of 5,071 positions were advertised.

In the last quarter, the top occupations advertised were teachers, managers, sales representatives, domestic helpers, drivers/dispatchers, bartenders, and cooks/chefs. Some of these occupations were also in the top ten during the October to December quarter. However, there were new occupations in high demand during the quarter under review such as days workers, babysitters and cashiers. The majority of the advertisements, which were classified as the hottest jobs for the quarter, were placed by organisations in the services (85.5 per cent) and goods producing (14.5 per cent) sectors.

During the October to December 2008 quarter, there were 221

advertisements for teachers. The specialisations most requested were Mathematics, English Language, Spanish and Music at the secondary level.

Most of the occupational categories recorded decreases for the period October 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, with the exception of elementary occupations and skilled agricultural and fishery workers.

The division

Professionals, senior officials and technicians declined to 1,306 vacancies, and this represented 40 per cent of positions advertised over the three months.

This was followed by the group service workers, shop and market sales workers, which decreased to 748, representing 23 per cent, and clerks which declined to 343 (10 per cent). However, elementary occupations increased to 551 and this represented 17 per cent of positions advertised over the three-month period.

Less demanded but frequently advertised occupations that job seekers can bear in mind are:

Administrative assistant

Human resource manager

Typist/Secretary

Warehouse/Stores/Stock Clerk

Mechanic

avia.ustanny@gleanerjm.com


The following is a list of the ten hottest jobs based on the advertisements for workers:


1. Managers (318)

2. Teachers (221)

3. Domestic helpers (212)

4. Sales representatives (166)

5. Drivers/Dispatchers (130)

6. Bartender/Barmaids (118)

7. Janitors/Handymen (100)

8. Days workers (92)

9. Babysitters (76)

10. Cashiers (76)


Source: MLSS survey