A Look at Employment in the South West

Whether you work in the tech industry, business, or another field, the first and most important element that you might research before you move house is the state of employment and the potential employment opportunities in the area in question. If you are moving to the South West, here is everything that you need to know in 2025.

The Job Market

The Southwest has a generally strong job market, with numerous openings in industries such as education and healthcare. However, this has recently been on the decline, in line with other areas of the UK, after a peak in late 2021-2022.

Wages

If you are already employed in the South West, there is nothing to worry about, as the wages that are offered to workers in the South West and beyond are currently on the rise. This means that you will be able to get more money for the work that you are performing.

The Employed

In the South West, 80% of people over the age of 18 are in employment, and this is higher than the UK average. This means that the South West can be an excellent place to move to if you are job hunting and want to secure a lengthy position at a firm. Of these individuals, more men are employed than women, but this is a marginal difference.

Job Types

The largest job types in the South West are professional occupations, so, if you have aims to work in an office, you will not go without work within the Southern areas of the UK.

How does this affect businesses?

The rate of employment in the Southwest affects businesses in several ways. For instance, there might be more competition between firms to gain the expertise of skilled employees and to ensure that they are able to enjoy fruitful recruitment drives.

Not only this, but businesses may also find that they need to offer ample benefits, along with a competitive pay scheme, to attract employees, as firms will be competing for attention.

This might mean that empty posts are left open for longer periods and that you spend a longer time trying to find the perfect individual for a role. This can be time-consuming and costly.

However, to find the best employees for you, you should ensure that you create a fantastic job advert, that you connect with local universities, and that you advertise your positions on multiple platforms, including online job boards.

You should also boost your company culture and ensure that your staff are happy so that your workplace becomes a desirable place for individuals to spend their days and perform their duties in.

If you are struggling to do this, you should consider speaking to the experts at The HR Dept. They will be able to ensure that your job adverts are attractive and that you treat your employees well. They will enable you to better manage your payroll, that you stay in line with the law, and that you find the top employees in your field. They can also highlight any urgent issues that need solving, as well as free up your time by taking on the majority of HR tasks. By employing them, you may find that you never have to worry about HR again.

What about if you are an employee?

The people who the state of employment affects the most, though, are job seekers.

If you are looking for a job in the Southwest, it is essential that you take your time, research the jobs you are applying for, and verify that their needs align with the skills you currently possess. Now that the job market is strong in the South West, there is no reason to rush your job search, and you are allowed to be picky.

To find an excellent place to work, you should consider using recruitment agencies and job boards, making connections with local companies, and contacting firms directly, whether they have an open vacancy or not.

To check that they are the right brand for you and your skills, you should look at employee reviews, compare what they offer with other companies, and check online for any PR disasters that may have occurred there. This will allow you to make an informed decision and see whether they are as great as they made themselves out to be in the job advert and interview. It is important to remain open-minded, though, as the least showy firm might actually turn out to be the right one for you.